Four jailed for vice offences in HDB flats

Four jailed for vice offences in HDB flats

Four Chinese nationals who were involved in vice activities in HDB estates were each packed off to jail for 10 weeks to 12 months yesterday.

Former bus captain Chen Ping Gen, 32, who faced the most charges - 20 - admitted to seven and was jailed for 12 months.

He had schemed with Jiang Ying, 28, and a 38-year-old Singaporean to live off the earnings of prostitutes, manage a Housing Board flat in Woodlands as a brothel, as well as to harbour and procure women from China to work as callgirls.

Chen's girlfriend, Liang Yadi, 23, who helped him upload photographs of prostitutes on a website and arrange for their accommodation, was jailed for 10 weeks for helping Chen live off the earnings of prostitutes.

Another Chinese national, Wan Jin, 23, a quality checker, was sentenced to six months' jail while Jiang, a factory operator, was jailed for seven months.

They had pleaded guilty to three and five charges respectively. Wan's name surfaced in the course of police investigation and he was arrested for being involved in prostitution activities.

Chen, who came to work for a bus firm three years ago, came to know Ah Wei, a Chinese national and a webmaster who over time taught him skills like how to upload photos to a website.

Chen was introduced to the Singaporean by Ah Wei.

The Singaporean, who has not been charged yet, introduced himself as someone who was dealing with immigration issues for foreigners.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Rachel Lee Pei Rong said that in May this year, Chen started renting units in the northern part of Singapore with the intention to sub-lease the rooms to women who would provide sexual services.

Chen met Jiang and learnt that he, too, was involved in the vice trade and had rented an HDB flat in Woodlands for the purpose.

They teamed up and agreed to share profits from the two Woodlands addresses.

They would charge each prostitute $350 a month for advertising their sexual services on the Web.

From the money they received, Chen would keep $300 while the Singaporean would get $50.

elena@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on Dec 13, 2014.
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