The Police are charging four women and two men, aged between 31 and 61, in court on 23 July 2021 for offences under the Massage Establishments Act and Public Entertainments Act.
In five separate cases reported between November 2020 and April 2021, four women and one man, aged between 42 and 61, were believed to have operated massage establishments without a valid licence. In some of these cases, vice-related activities were detected. The five persons have therefore contravened provisions under the Massage Establishments Act. In another case reported in May 2021, a 31-year-old man was believed to have operated an unlicensed KTV outlet that was patronised by 15 persons. He has therefore committed offences under the Public Entertainments Act, Liquor Control Act as well as the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.
Under Section 5(1) of the Massage Establishments Act, those found carrying on a business of providing massage services in an establishment for massage without a valid licence shall be fined $10,000, imprisonment of up two years, or both. For repeat offenders, the offence carries a fine not exceeding $20,000, imprisonment of up five years, or both.
For non-compliance with safe management measures under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, offenders may be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$10,000, or both. The offences of supplying liquor without a valid licence and providing public entertainment without a valid licence, carry a fine of up to $20,000 each.
The Police have been consistently taking enforcement action at massage establishments and public entertainment outlets to suppress vice and other illegal activities. Members of the public and businesses are advised to take safe management measures seriously. The Police have zero tolerance of irresponsible behaviours relating to the flouting of these measures and offenders will be dealt with firmly.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
23 July 2021 @ 7:45 AM