Para-athlete had sex with 12 women to 'test' them for social escort job

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof
The New Paper
June 21, 2016

A person named "Angel Tan" messaged her on Facebook with a tempting offer - become a social escort and earn up to $1,000 an hour, or $30,000 a month.

The 34-year-old food and beverage (F&B) manager, who was in financial difficulties, agreed to complete a "sexually explicit" questionnaire and go for an interview.

But this "Angel" was the devil in disguise.

It was one of several fake names used by former para-athlete Adam Kamis to lure women into the vice trade, and dupe them into having sex with him.

Posing as a handler for SG Freelancers, a social escort agency that he had set up, he made his victims - some as young as 16 - undergo "verification" tests.

During the "tests", he checked out their naked bodies and had sex with some of them, ostensibly to ensure they were willing to provide sexual services to clients.

In the case of the F&B manager, she met Adam at his Yishun flat on June 27, 2014, and had sex with him.

She later had sex with him two more times because he called her back for further "tests".

Yesterday, Adam, now 37, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of procuring women for prostitution and one count of child trafficking.

It was a fall from grace for the para-athlete who had done Singapore proud by winning gold in the men's 1,500m at the 2009 ASEAN Para Games.

In 2008, he was the first para-athlete to complete the Vertical Marathon, and he also competed in the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

IN DEBT

The court heard that Adam, also known as "Adam OneArmRunner", had set up the escort agency SG Freelancers and the website Uniquely Singapore in early 2013 because he was in debt.

Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz said Adam had reached out to his victims via social networking sites such as Facebook and Tagged, as well as e-mail.

"The accused had explained that those who had not performed satisfactorily during the initial verification process, either because they were awkward or lacking in skill and personality, were required to undergo further verification," she said.

His victims, whose ages ranged from 16 to 38, included students, a childcare teacher, a dental assistant, and a mother of two. They cannot be named to protect their identities.

About four months later, in June 2013, Adam contacted a 34-year-old accountant via Facebook, and promised her a high-paying job as a social escort.

He had sexual intercourse with her in the master bedroom of his flat in mid-October that year. He later secured a client who paid her $450 for her sexual services.

When another victim in April 2015 told Adam she was 16 years old, he lied that the job was "legal".

Before having unprotected sex with her, he told her that some other girls working for him were also underaged.

The police were able to establish the identities of 34 women who had applied for the social escort job.

Between early 2013 and October 2015, Adam recruited 15 women, but managed to secure only five clients. Court documents stated that he did not make a cent.

Sitting alone at the public gallery in court yesterday was Adam's wife, whom he had met through an online social networking portal and married in November 2012.

Adam will be in court again on June 27.

He can be jailed up to five years and fined up to $10,000 for attempting to procure a woman for prostitution.

He faces up to 10 years' jail, a fine of up to $100,000, and up to six strokes of the cane for child trafficking.

The 12 women who were 'tested'

ACCOUNTANT, 34

Contacted on Facebook by Uniquely Singapore in June 2013, she went to Adam's Yishun flat in October.

They had sex, and Adam later found her a client, who paid $450 for her sexual services.

WOMAN, 25

Contacted on Tagged in August 2013, she met Adam, who introduced himself as "Jeffrey", the following month.

She had sex with Adam on two occasions, and he found her a client for $400 an hour in October.

However, the client fled without paying.

STUDENT, 17

In late 2013, she received a Facebook message from SG Freelancers about a high-paying escort job.

Adam invited her to his flat for an interview in late October and early November 2014.

He told her to remove her clothes and they had unprotected sex.

She later declined the job.

BEAUTY CONSULTANT, 24

Contacted on Tagged in March 2014, she met Adam in his flat the next month.

She refused to go through the "test" and left.

F&B MANAGER, 34

Contacted on Facebook in June 2014, she ended up having sex with Adam on three occasions because he asked her to return twice for further "testing".

She later turned down the job because she was in a new relationship.

POLYTECHNIC STUDENT, 23

Contacted via SG Freelancers in July 2014, she went to Adam's flat a few days later.

When he told her she had to have sex with him, she left.

WOMAN, 26

Contacted by "Angel Tan" on Facebook in August 2014, she sent several photos of herself in undergarments.

She later went to Adam's flat, where she performed oral sex on him.

They did not have sex with because she was having her period.

She later rejected the job offer.

CHILDCARE TEACHER, 24

Contacted by SG Freelancers in September 2014, she went to Adam's flat the next month for an interview.

During the "testing", Adam used a condom but later removed it.

A few days later, he asked her for a follow-up interview, but she refused.

WOMAN, 19

Early last year, she received a Facebook message from "Angel Tan", and submitted her photos.

In February that year, she went to Adam's flat.

During the "test", Adam told her she needed to improve her skills.

They also had unprotected sex.

In March, she went back for another "test", but later decided against working as an escort.

UNIVERSITY STUDENT, 21

After receiving a Facebook message from "Angel Tan" in March last year, she submitted photos of herself.

But the "verification" process could not be completed because of her period. She later declined to take the job.

STUDENT, 16

In April last year, she messaged "Angel Tan" on Facebook after seeing an online advertisement for a job that paid $500 a day.

When she went to Adam's flat, he introduced himself as "Bob". She told him her age and that she had a boyfriend.

Adam lied that the job was legal, and they had unprotected sex.

DENTAL ASSISTANT, 38

After receiving a Facebook message from "Angel Tan", she sent photos of herself in lingerie.

In June last year, she went to Adam's flat, where she declined to perform oral sex, but agreed to have sex with him.

Adam ignored her after the "test".

Adam had difficulties during remand: Lawyer

Adam Kamis' lawyer, Mr Ravinderpal Singh, told the court yesterday his client was remorseful and sorry for his actions.

While the prosecution asked a total of 38 months' jail, Mr Singh said Adam had asked for the minimum sentence possible.

He also said Adam's experience during remand of about a week last October at Cantonment Police Station "was harrowing".

A 2003 motorbike accident had "ripped his right arm below the shoulder and caused severe nerve avulsion in his left upper limb", making day-to-day personal activities a challenge, Mr Singh said.

In his mitigation plea, Adam said he did not receive any assistance during meals while in remand.

As a result, he had to lie on his side to eat the meals laid on the floor.

He faced similar problems when showering or going to the toilet to relieve himself. Such duties were normally performed by his wife or mother.

Said Mr Singh: "The accused (Adam) felt useless during these times and was subjected to much embarrassment, discomfort and felt very degraded."

A doctor also wrote a letter to the judge with a detailed assessment of Adam's injuries and the challenges he faces.

Dr Tan Soo Heong, a senior consultant hand surgeon from Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, said simple tasks were "impossible for him to do by himself".

The doctor also said Adam did web designing, using his feet and mouth, to help out with his family's finances. But the projects were few and irregular.

zaihan@sph.com.sg

See also:

Sports fraternity stunned by para-athlete's charge of getting 18-year-old into prostitution

Winner of Stomp's Valentine's Day Love Story Contest charged for getting 18-year-old woman into prostitution