Couple get 14 months' jail on vice charges

Couple get 14 months' jail on vice charges

They would advertise for female social escorts in newspapers, and tell prospective hires during interviews that their job scope included providing sexual services.

Several women signed on even after the sex requirement was revealed, as they were desperate for money. But at least one woman thought she was signing up to be a masseuse.

And one was just 18.

Yesterday, the Singaporean couple running this prostitution ring were sentenced to 14 months' jail each.

Peh Seng Choon, 48, faced 19 charges, ranging from procuring women for the purpose of prostitution to living in part on prostitution earnings, and managing a place where sexual services were assigned.

He was previously convicted of other vice offences in 2005.

His co-accused Seow Choon Choon, 40, faced 20 charges for similar offences.

The two told the women to charge customers between $200 and $800 for sexual services, which were advertised online and in newspapers.

Potential customers called a hot line to make appointments, some of which were arranged at a construction firm office on French Road owned by Peh and Seow. Once arrangements were confirmed, the women were driven to hotels or homes to meet their customers.

The women were required to give half of their earnings to Peh and Seow, who were arrested on Sept 3 in 2012 during a police operation.

Four of the prostitutes were witnesses at their trial, including the teenager, who reported earnings of $1,050 over 10 days in August 2012.

hpeishan@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on Mar 18, 2015.
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