12 women arrested for vice-related activities in residential areas

SINGAPORE - Police have arrested 12 women for their suspected involvement in vice-related activities during raids that were carried out last month.

The women, who are aged between 27 and 50, are believed to be advertising sexual service via online websites and operating within the residential areas.

They were arrested at five residential units in Ang Mo Kio, Hougang, Kovan and Sembawang area, and a total of $1,780 cash and mobile phones were seized as case exhibits during the raid. 

According to the police, any person who contravenes the offence of being the tenant, lessee or occupier or person in charge of a brothel and the offence of keeping, managing or assisting in the management of a brothel under Section 148 of the Women’s Charter are liable on conviction to a fine of up to a maximum of $10,000, or to imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

In addition, any person who contravenes the offence of knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person, such as receiving rental earnings from the prostitutes, is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding S$10,000.

Police said they will spare no effort in clamping down on online vice activities, especially those operating in the heartlands. They also advise house owners to be diligent in ensuring that their tenants do not carry out illicit vice activities in their units.

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