11 arrested, licence of St James club suspended for vice activities: Clients could book girls for $500 to $1,000

A club along Sentosa Gateway has become the first nightspot to be suspended under the enhanced regulatory powers of the Public Entertainments Act since the laws were tightened in August.

Stomp understands that the club in question is Rupee @ St James - Bollywood Gentlemen's Club.

The police said in a news release that a vice syndicate has been using the club to operate and provide sexual services to their clients.

Clients book the services of the girls via the management of the club for a price ranging between $500 to $1,000.

Nine women and two men, aged between 21 to 54, were arrested for their suspected involvement in vice-related activities at the club.

The women, who are work pass holders, are suspected to have made use of their stay in Singapore to commit the vice-related offences.

Investigations are ongoing for the case.

The club's management posted an announcement on its Facebook page on Dec 11 saying that they feel "highly victimised and targeted".

They wrote: "We would like to state that we feel highly victimized and targeted.

"Being the smallest entertainment entity in the vicinity and operating on the concept of a highly niche but minority group of patrons who are interested in Bollywood entertainment and dance, it comes as a great surprise to be accused that Rupee St James is a place of assignment where immoral activities are communicated as such communication can occur anywhere including common areas.

"The management does not condone such actions and does not provide vice services originating from the club. Should an individual employee have been discovered to have engaged in illicit activity after working hours, it is beyond our knowledge and any action the individual has committed has been at their sole discretion without our consent or knowledge.

"The investigation is currently ongoing and not concluded. However whilst investigations are still ongoing the matter remains only an allegation. The club is intent on resuming its operations in the nearest future upon approval.

"The club does not run on the alleged business model of providing vice services to clients. If indeed this was the case, we would not be hiring qualified performing artists who are highly qualified and experienced in traditional Bollywood Dance.

"All performing artists and management of the club were holding valid working permits and passes. There were no illegal employees engaged by the club."

In a previous post on Dec 8, they wrote that the club is temporarily closed due to "upgrading works" until Dec 31.

"An exciting 2018 awaits you with more first class Bollywood Entertainment," the post read. "In the meantime, Rupee St James is available for private event reservations and bookings."

The club's Public Entertainment Licence has been suspended with effect from Dec 8.

A licence may be suspended or cancelled if the licensee is no longer a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.

Under the Women's Charter, any person who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and to a fine not exceeding $10,000.