175 arrested for vice in massage parlours, beauty salons and other locations over last 2 months

Ten men and 165 women, aged between 20 and 57, were arrested for their suspected involvement in vice-related activities from July 1 to Aug 31, said police.

Officers from the Criminal Investigation Department and the seven Police Land Divisions conducted coordinated raids at multiple locations island-wide, including condominiums, massage establishments, beauty salons, hotels and residential units at Lavender Street, Jurong East, Jurong West, Orchard Road, Upper Serangoon, Joo Chiat, Upper Thomson Road, Geylang and Balestier Road.

The police will spare no effort to clamp down and take tough enforcement action on vice activities especially those operating elusively online.

Under the Women’s Charter 1961, any person who, in the course of business, uses a remote communication service with a Singapore link to offer or facilitate the provision by a woman or girl to another person of sexual services in Singapore in return for payment or reward, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or both.

Where the person is a repeat offender, he will be liable on conviction, to a fine not exceeding $150,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or both.

Under the same Act, any person who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of a woman or girl shall be guilty of an offence and shall be punished on conviction with imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding $100,000.

Where the person is a repeat offender, he shall be liable on conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding $150,000.

Additionally, under HDB's terms and conditions, HDB flat owners are responsible for conducting regular checks to ensure that their tenants do not misuse the flat, further rent out any part of the flat, or create nuisance to their neighbours.

HDB takes a serious view of flat owners and tenants who violate such conditions, particularly if the flat is misused for vice activities, and will not hesitate to take the appropriate action against them.

An owner or the agent of an owner of a place who knowingly rents the premises to any person for vice-related activities can be prosecuted under the Women’s Charter 1961 and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or both and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $150,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or both.