Online vice case: 29th man jailed

SINGAPORE- A former aircraft engineer with the Republic of Singapore Air Force who had paid sex with a 17-year-old girl was jailed for nine weeks yesterday.

Goh Wee Seong was the 29th man to be jailed for having commercial sex with the Singaporean minor. In total, 51 men have been charged over similar offences.

Goh, 35, pleaded guilty to the offence, committed at Hotel 81 Bencoolen on Oct 23, 2010.

A district court heard that he had come across a website operated by the minor's pimp, Tang Boon Thiew. In the website, the minor was listed as one of the escorts offering sexual services. She was described as an 18-year-old polytechnic student.

Goh sent text messages to Tang who confirmed that the minor would be available on the day that he had requested.

Tang quoted $500 for an hour for her services and informed Goh that it would take place at the hotel in Bencoolen Street.

Goh booked a room at the hotel and informed Tang, who relayed the message to the minor.

After having sex with the minor, Goh paid her the money.

In mitigation, Goh's lawyer S. Radakrishnan described his client as an outstanding soldier. He added that Goh had suffered from depression before the offence was committed and had also done community service.

As for the girl's age, Mr Radakrishnan said Goh did ask her if she was 18 and she said she was. But he did not check her identity card.

The maximum penalty for commercial sex with a person under 18 years of age is seven years' jail and a fine.

Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.