Malaysian Man, 25, Jailed for Recruiting 2 Japanese Women for Prostitution at Marina Bay Sands Hotel
Goh Boon Hong, a Malaysian man, pleaded guilty to five charges on June 30, including harboring women for the purpose of prostitution and living on prostitution earnings.
In August 2024, a man by the name of Wong Chi San recruited Goh to join the syndicate.
At first, Goh was paid 10 per cent of the proceeds from prostitution. Later on, this was raised to 20 per cent.
Following Wong's arrest in January 2025, Goh assumed control of the syndicate's activities. Court documents contained no information about Wong's case.
That month, Goh invited a 26-year-old Japanese woman, identified as A1 in court documents, to engage in prostitution in Singapore from February to March.
A1 invited her Japanese friend A2, who is 27 years old, and A2 accepted.
A1 provided sexual services to 44 customers over nine days at the Marina Bay Sands hotel. She earned S$14,800 from them and was paid 1.24 million yen (S$10,900) by Goh.
A2 made S$11,100 by serving 37 customers. She received 830,000 yen from Goh.
The hotel rooms were reserved by Goh's accomplice, Zhang Kai, a Chinese national.
Goh paid Zhang S$50 per room per day to acquire the hotel rooms, on top of the room fees.
Additionally, Zhang would assist Goh in installing massage gels and inflatable beds in the hotel rooms' restrooms.
Goh initially gave Zhang $500 for every toilet setup. After Zhang voiced his concerns about the dangers of engaging in these prostitution activities, this was later raised to S$600.
In addition, Goh retained the remaining proceeds from the prostitution and paid Zhang S$2,100 for his services during the nine-day period.
When police carried out an anti-vice operation at Marina Bay Sands on March 7, the offenses were discovered, and Goh was taken into custody.
Zhang's pre-trial conference is scheduled for July 17; his case is still pending.
A conviction for harboring a woman for prostitution carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum fine of S$100,000.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Clans of Geylang: The fight for survival and revival
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mr Stanley Ng (left), secretary-general of the Huang Clan Association's youth committee, and his father, Mr Ng Poh Wah, the clan's former chairman. SINGAPORE – For 78 years, the Huang Clan Association was housed in Jiangxia Tang, a two-storey bungalow with distinctive yellow shutters and red grille gates in Lorong 35 Geylang. The clan was established in 1924 following a merger of several clans whose members had the surname 'Huang' or its variants. Today, its headquarters are spread over a two-storey space in Sixteen35 Residences, an eight-storey condominium that was completed three years ago on the 2,220 sq m site of the original clan house. The association's name runs down a street-facing wall in seven silver Chinese characters beside a private entrance to the clan house, complete with its own private lift. The association occupies three levels of a dedicated section of the building. On level 2 are lushly carpeted air-conditioned rooms, a multi-purpose hall, library, meeting rooms and an office. A climate-controlled cultural and heritage exhibition room houses antique furniture and artworks from the original bungalow. The transformation of the Huang Clan's premises was three decades in the making. 'Since the 1990s, we were already discussing the deteriorating state of the building and ageing membership,' says Mr Ng Poh Wah, 67, the clan's former chairman. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PAP has begun search for new candidates; PM Wong hopes to deploy them earlier ahead of next GE Singapore 20 retired MPs spoke up on many issues in Parliament, helped successors prepare for new role: PM Wong Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Banks tighten vigilance and processes following $3b money laundering case Asia JB petrol station shooting: Dead man with bullet wounds dumped at hospital Singapore Trilateral work group formed to address allegations of foreigners illegally taking on platform work Singapore Power distribution system in renewal project may be linked to Bukit Panjang LRT disruption: SMRT Singapore Rise in number of scam e-mails claiming to be from Cardinal William Goh: Catholic Church 'But our plans to revamp the clan house never came to fruition, because the main issue then was, where will the money come from?' adds the businessman. An opportunity emerged amid the condo development boom in Geylang in the 2010s. In 2013, Mr Ng – then the association chairman – established a task force to bring about the building of a new clan house. In 2018, the clan sold a 99-year leasehold estate to Oxley Holdings, while retaining ownership of the land. As part of the deal, the property developer would transfer a portion of the units back to the Huang Clan to form part of the new clan house. The old clan premises and an adjacent house made way for the new condominium, which now sits on a 23,800 sq ft plot of land. 'People have told us it doesn't look like a clan house at all, but we think of it as an entirely new model of the clan house. So there's not much regret over losing the old clan house, because we've gained something,' says Mr Ng . 'Clan events have shifted from the previous open-air grounds to a modern ballroom, which can be booked for activities by non-clan members,' says Mr Steven Huang, 60, the clan's former vice-chairman. The third floor of the clan's premises is currently rented to a Buddhist association, which took over the lease from a yoga studio. 'Now, the clan is entirely self-sustaining and we don't have to keep relying on donations,' says Mr Stanley Ng, 37, secretary-general of the youth committee and Mr Ng Poh Wah 's son. Since the new clan house opened in 2022, youth membership has increased by 30 per cent. Now, half of the clan's executive committee is under 45. To complement existing efforts to increase youth engagement, the clan used the premises to host youth wing activities and even added a karaoke room on the second floor as part of the renovations. The younger Mr Ng says: 'The old building was reminiscent of an old men's club, it was difficult to attract young people… It's so much better now – it's more comfortable, and there's a more conducive space for our youth wing activities. ' 'With the renovation, Huang Clan has fortunately transcended the issues of lack of funds, due to the sustainability of the premises and its attractiveness to our youth members.' Opposition to the redevelopment The redevelopment was not without its difficulties. 'Normally, you see mixed residential and commercial developments , but this was the first time anyone wanted to mix clan associations with residential use,' says Mr Stanley Ng. The unique nature of the deal saw his father engaging in extensive talks with potential developers, legal advisers, and clan members. 'We are the first clan in Singapore to have done anything like this. Originally, our lawyers thought that it wouldn't even have been possible,' says Mr Ng Poh Wah. 'I spent every weekend meeting developers, it was a very long and draining process. I spent more time on the negotiations than on my own business,' he adds. The Huang Clan Association's headquarters are spread over a two-storey space in Sixteen35 Residences. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE Internally, some clan members opposed the redevelopment, arguing for the original clan house to be gazetted as a cultural site. This was especially since it was where the renowned Chinese painter Xu Beihong created some of his works during his visits to Singapore between the 1920s and 1942 , when the island fell to the Japanese . Mr Ng explained to them that constructing a new clan house was a hard but necessary step. He says: 'We tried to preserve the original facade of the house, but the architect told us that it would not be possible because the piling works would affect the structural quality.' Mr Stanley Ng adds: 'If it was gazetted for preservation, then who would take on the cost of making the building safe and revamping the building? We had to think of what was in the best interest of the clan.' His father recalls: 'At the end of the day, the clan had a lot of cash flow problems. My committee members and I had to donate our own money to keep the clan running. When I was the chairman, I think I donated more than $100,000 of my own money for things like scholarships and banquets. If we continued, it would not be sustainable.' To obtain zoning approval for the redevelopment of the site, it had to give up the traditional practice of burning incense and paper offerings during the Chinese New Year and Hungry Ghost Festival. Moreover, as the entire clan house is now indoors, the clan's lion dance troupe had to disband as the noise would affect condo residents. But Mr Ng Poh Wah adds: 'It would have happened sooner or later, because more condominiums are popping up in the area.' Despite the sacrifices and initial resistance, the turnaround in the association's fortunes – in terms of finances and its youth membership – has made it a model for its peers. Mr Stanley Ng says: 'Now, other clans who are trying to replicate what we did (have) approached us in private for advice.' A photo on display showing the clan's former premises in a two-storey bungalow. ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE Consolidations and closures 'What Huang Clan did was very special,' says Ms Lynn Wong, 32, a heritage consultant. 'Many clans have been closing down because there is nobody left to take over, or they cannot sustain their finances.' Just over 200 of Singapore's 500 clan associations of the past still exist, she notes. In Geylang, that figure has dwindled from 108 in 1998 to 74 today. Nevertheless, the area remains home to the largest concentration of clan associations in Singapore. A 50ha zone in Geylang was designated for clans in 1992 by the Urban Redevelopment Authority. The area, which stretches from Lorong 7 to 35, and Lorong 6 to 20, was designated 'commercial/institution' zoning, the only one of its kind in Singapore. Clans islandwide whose original premises had been acquired by the Government for redevelopment or which had been priced out of their original locations were encouraged to move into the area, with the promise of fast-track zoning approval for their premises. One of those clans that made use of the scheme is Char Yong (Dabu) Association. In 1988, the clan – one of Singapore's oldest clan associations – moved from its original premises in Cairnhill Road to its current location in Lorong 22 Geylang. The clan has been increasing its presence in Geylang steadily. It completed the construction of its Hakka village in Lorong 18 Geylang in December 2024. The building's temporary occupation permit is expected by July or August 2025. Four floors of the building will be leased out to commercial tenants while the rest of the building will be used for clan activities. The association bought the 17,000 sq ft freehold site for $37 million in August 2020. The site, which was formerly occupied by 11 shophouses, is a key part of the clan's future. 'It helps that it's close to our current location, and there's a very rich culture and heritage of clans in the area,' says Mr Lee Hong Ping, 55, head of the association's heritage committee. While Char Yong (Dabu) and the Huang Clan leveraged their locations in Geylang to launch redevelopment plans, smaller clans in the neighbourhood have not been immune to the broader decline of Chinese clan associations in Singapore. 'Other clans in Geylang are not as fortunate as they are still renting their premises, and they move out once rents rise,' says Ms Wong, who has documented the closure of several clans, many of which have shuttered for good or merged with larger ones. For the Huang Clan, the sacrifices that came with reconstructing its premises were necessary for the larger purpose of renewal. The elder Mr Ng, who also chairs the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations' Member Affairs Committee, says: 'Not all clans are able to replicate what we did due to constraints like land. However, the most crucial issue still lies in getting people on board with change.' He says: 'There are clan elders who want things to stay on as they are forever. We have to make progress as times change so that succession can happen.'
International Business Times
13 hours ago
- International Business Times
Malaysian Man, 25, Jailed for Recruiting 2 Japanese Women for Prostitution at Marina Bay Sands Hotel
A 25-year-old man was sentenced to a year's jail and fined S$4,000 for running an online vice syndicate to recruit Japanese women for prostitution in Singapore. Goh Boon Hong, a Malaysian man, pleaded guilty to five charges on June 30, including harboring women for the purpose of prostitution and living on prostitution earnings. In August 2024, a man by the name of Wong Chi San recruited Goh to join the syndicate. At first, Goh was paid 10 per cent of the proceeds from prostitution. Later on, this was raised to 20 per cent. Following Wong's arrest in January 2025, Goh assumed control of the syndicate's activities. Court documents contained no information about Wong's case. That month, Goh invited a 26-year-old Japanese woman, identified as A1 in court documents, to engage in prostitution in Singapore from February to March. A1 invited her Japanese friend A2, who is 27 years old, and A2 accepted. A1 provided sexual services to 44 customers over nine days at the Marina Bay Sands hotel. She earned S$14,800 from them and was paid 1.24 million yen (S$10,900) by Goh. A2 made S$11,100 by serving 37 customers. She received 830,000 yen from Goh. The hotel rooms were reserved by Goh's accomplice, Zhang Kai, a Chinese national. Goh paid Zhang S$50 per room per day to acquire the hotel rooms, on top of the room fees. Additionally, Zhang would assist Goh in installing massage gels and inflatable beds in the hotel rooms' restrooms. Goh initially gave Zhang $500 for every toilet setup. After Zhang voiced his concerns about the dangers of engaging in these prostitution activities, this was later raised to S$600. In addition, Goh retained the remaining proceeds from the prostitution and paid Zhang S$2,100 for his services during the nine-day period. When police carried out an anti-vice operation at Marina Bay Sands on March 7, the offenses were discovered, and Goh was taken into custody. Zhang's pre-trial conference is scheduled for July 17; his case is still pending. A conviction for harboring a woman for prostitution carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a maximum fine of S$100,000.
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Straits Times
Stabbing suspect in Finland has violent criminal history, say police
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Four people were stabbed near the shopping centre in Tampere, Finland, on July 3. Finnish police said on July 4 that the 23-year-old man suspected of stabbing four people near a shopping centre in Finland had a history of violent crimes. Police were alerted to the stabbing outside a shopping centre in central Tampere at 4.23pm local time on July 3. The victims received first aid at the scene and were now receiving hospital care for 'severe injuries', according to police – though none of the victims had life-threatening injuries. The suspect, a 23-year-old Finnish man, put up no resistance as he was arrested at the scene carrying a knife, police said. He admitted to the stabbings during a preliminary interrogation, saying he had chosen his victims at random and did not know them, according to police. There was 'no reason to suspect that the act was motivated by terrorism or racism', police said. 'When asked why he committed such an act, the perpetrator says that humans are all enemies, that everyone is stalking him,' Detective Chief Inspector Sakari Tuominen told a press conference on July 4. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $3b money laundering case: 9 financial institutions handed $27.45m in MAS penalties over breaches Singapore Seller's stamp duty hike will curb short-term speculation; market effect likely minimal: Analysts Singapore NTUC says some foreigners taking on platform work illegally, calls for work group to address issue World Trump says countries to start paying tariffs on Aug 1; floats range of 10% to 70% Singapore Sengkang murder: Man accused of killing elderly mother escorted back to crime scene Singapore Tourism bump from Lady Gaga concerts raked in up to estimated $150m for Singapore economy Singapore Jail for man who recruited 2 Japanese women for prostitution at MBS Life Book review: OB Markers sequel Ink And Influence makes catch-22 proposal for The Straits Times 'The motive will be clarified during the preliminary investigation through interviews.' Police said in a statement on July 3 that the incident was being investigated as 'four attempted manslaughters', while noting that the type of offences may change as the investigation progresses. Mr Tuominen added that the 23-year-old had a criminal record, including stabbing a person in 2023 and three counts of aggravated robbery while carrying a knife in 2020. Police have requested the suspect be remanded in custody and a court hearing is scheduled for July 7. According to Mr Tuominen, they had several eyewitnesses to the attack, and the incident was over in about a minute. AFP
