A WOMAN was spared from going to jail for running a brothel and for corruption - thanks to her nine-month old baby girl.

Li Chunmei, 40, a Chinese national, was instead fined a total of $15,000 on four charges.

She had pleaded guilty earlier to running a brothel at Mei Yuen Beauty & Therapy at People's Park Centre at Upper Cross Street between March and Dec 28, 2006.

Li, who divorced her Singaporean husband recently, had also admitted giving a $600 bribe on each of three occasions to one Low Soon, 57, to help her register the business and take the rap for managing the unlicensed massage parlour.

The court heard that when police raided Mei Yuen on Dec 28, 2006, three women who had provided sexual services were arrested.

The business also did not have a valid licence for a massage parlour.

Li, who had registered the business under Low's name, collected $100 a day from each of the three women.

Altogether she had paid Low $5,100 on nine occasions from March to November 2006. She was arrested in February last year.

Li told the court on Wednesday that she would take her baby with her to prison if she was given a long sentence. If it was a short jail term, then she would ask her landlady to take care of the infant.

She had rejected the prosecution's offer for a foster mother to take care of the baby.

District Judge Jasvender said Li had committed very serious offences, but felt that a prison was not the best place for the baby.