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The Police will be charging a landlord for its suspected involvement in knowingly allowing its tenant to carry on the business of an unlicensed Massage Establishment (ME).

On 30 October 2025, during an enforcement check along Upper Serangoon Road, the Police detected an ME operating without a valid licence, an offence under the Massage Establishment Act 2017.

Upon conclusion of investigations, the operator of the unlicensed ME was charged in court on 4 February 2026 for an offence of carrying on the business of providing massage services in an establishment without licence under Section 5(4) of the Massage Establishments Act 2017. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $10,000.

Police investigations further revealed that the landlord of the premises had allowed the operator to carry on the business of providing massage services in an establishment without a licence. This is also an offence under Section 5(4) of the Massage Establishments Act 2017. The landlord will be charged in court on 1 April 2026 for the offence of knowingly allowing its tenant to carry on the business of an unlicensed ME. If convicted of the offence, the landlord may be punished with a fine not exceeding $10,000, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both.

Landlords should exercise due diligence by conducting proper checks on their tenants and their intended use of the rented premises before entering into any lease agreement. The Police will not hesitate to take action against landlords who knowingly and complicitly allow their premises to be used by tenants, for any illegal activities.