3rd man jailed over paid sex with minor, 16

SINGAPORE - A full-time national serviceman was jailed for three months yesterday over paid sex with a minor in an online vice-ring case.

Abu Shah Mohamed Abdul Mutalif, 22, was given another eight months for taking methamphetamine or Ice, meaning he will serve a total sentence of 11 months.

He is the third man - after former port inspector and police officer Alvin Chen Zi You, 32, and bellhop Muhammad Ibrahim, 24 - to have been convicted of paid sex with the 16-year-old girl.

They were among 10 men charged in June this year.

Abu Shah admitted to paying $250 for the sexual services of the minor at Bay Hotel in Telok Blangah Road on Feb 21 this year.

The minor had been procured for prostitution by Malcolm Graham Head, 33, and his girlfriend, Veronica Patricia Rio, 19, in October last year.

Head ran his online prostitution ring by advertising the sexual services of his working girls on various websites.

He had initially tricked the minor into believing she was going to be a social escort with "fast cash" and "high pay".

Later, the girl realised that she was to provide sexual services of all kinds to clients, said Deputy Public Prosecutor Winston Man.

When she did not want to serve clients, she would be fed Ice to keep her awake, or be assaulted by the couple.

On the evening of Feb 20, Abu Shah was browsing the Internet to look for a prostitute when he chanced upon a website advertising the minor's services.

He texted a number listed and was quoted a price of $250.

The minor was taken to the hotel after midnight. Two of Abu Shah's friends escorted her to the room and left the hotel. Abu Shah paid the minor for her sexual services and did not ask for her identity card or age.

He tested positive for methamphetamine while absent without leave from the Singapore Armed Forces.

Two urine samples taken from him on March 20 tested positive for the drug.

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