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New Paper
06-05-2025
- New Paper
Four men, one woman charged over offences linked to illegal brothels
Four men and one woman are accused of crimes related to illegal brothels, including deceiving landlords in Geylang about the true use of their premises. The alleged offenders, who are all Singapore citizens, were handed between one and five charges each in a district court on May 6. Police said on May 5 that the individuals were among those arrested after officers conducted raids across Singapore on Oct 21, 2024. Ho Seng Wee, 40, who faces four charges, had allegedly managed illegal brothels and lived off prostitutes' earnings between April and October 2024. According to charge sheets, Ho - together with Ong Zhihe Philip and Liew Yaojie - also posted advertisements of at least nine women offering sexual services on the website Sammyboyforum. Lim Shi Wei, 36, was handed four counts of cheating for allegedly instigating others to rent four premises in the Geylang area, which were later misused as brothels. Lim also faces one count of using a bank account belonging to his spouse to receive prostitution payments. The remaining three people - Khah Tee Meng, 61; Lee Teck Li, 44; and the only woman, Loo Lay Kuan, 56 - were purportedly occupiers of the Geylang premises listed in Lim's charges. They allegedly cheated the landlords into thinking they were the rightful tenants, while using the units as brothels. For this, they each face one offence of cheating. Loo and Khah were also given one, and four additional charges respectively, for gambling-related offences. All five individuals are out on $15,000 bail. Four of them, except Khah, will be pleading guilty in June. The October 2024 raids were conducted by police officers from the Specialised Crime Branch and Criminal Investigation Department. Police seized more than $6,000 in cash, vice-related paraphernalia and controlled drugs. Twenty people were arrested in total from the raids and follow-up investigations, said the police. Of the group, eight - including those charged on May 6 - have been hauled to court, while one woman received a warning and another man was investigated for drug-related offences. Police investigations on the other individuals are ongoing. The offence of managing a brothel carries a maximum punishment of up to $100,000 fine and jail for up to five years.
Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Straits Times
Four men, one woman charged over offences linked to illegal brothels
Police said on May 5 that the individuals were among those arrested after officers conducted raids across Singapore on Oct 21, 2024. PHOTO: ST FILE Four men, one woman charged over offences linked to illegal brothels SINGAPORE – Four men and one woman are accused of crimes related to illegal brothels, including deceiving landlords in Geylang about the true use of their premises. The alleged offenders, who are all Singapore citizens, were handed between one and five charges each in a district court on May 6. Police said on May 5 that the individuals were among those arrested after officers conducted raids across Singapore on Oct 21, 2024. Ho Seng Wee, 40, who faces four charges, had allegedly managed illegal brothels and lived off prostitutes' earnings between April and October 2024. According to charge sheets, Ho – together with Ong Zhihe Philip and Liew Yaojie – also posted advertisements of at least nine women offering sexual services on the website Sammyboyforum. Lim Shi Wei, 36, was handed four counts of cheating for allegedly instigating others to rent four premises in the Geylang area, which were later misused as brothels. Lim also faces one count of using a bank account belonging to his spouse to receive prostitution payments. The remaining three people – Khah Tee Meng, 61; Lee Teck Li, 44; and the only woman, Loo Lay Kuan, 56 – were purportedly occupiers of the Geylang premises listed in Lim's charges. They allegedly cheated the landlords into thinking they were the rightful tenants, while using the units as brothels. For this, they each face one offence of cheating. Loo and Khah were also given one, and four additional charges respectively, for gambling-related offences. All five individuals are out on $15,000 bail. Four of them, except Khah, will be pleading guilty in June. The October 2024 raids were conducted by police officers from the Specialised Crime Branch and Criminal Investigation Department. Police seized more than $6,000 in cash, vice-related paraphernalia and controlled drugs. Twenty people were arrested in total from the raids and follow-up investigations, said the police. Of the group , eight – including those charged on May 6 – have been hauled to court, while one woman received a warning and another man was investigated for drug-related offences. Police investigations on the other individuals are ongoing. The offence of managing a brothel carries a maximum punishment of up to $100,000 fine and jail for up to five years. Christine Tan is a journalist at The Straits Times reporting on crime, justice and social issues in Singapore. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
05-05-2025
- CNA
Five people to be charged over the running of brothels
SINGAPORE: Five people - four men and one woman - will be charged on Tuesday (May 6) over the running of brothels. They will also be charged for their alleged involvement in other offences such as cheating and providing unlicensed payment services. Officers from the Specialised Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department had on Oct 21, 2024 conducted simultaneous raids at Airport Boulevard, Geylang Road, Dover Road, Jurong West Street 64, Minbu Road, Upper Serangoon Road and Upper Thomson Road areas. During the operation, 17 people were arrested for their suspected involvement in vice-related and illegal drug activities - among various offences. The police on Monday said that follow-up investigations led to the arrest of two other men and a woman aged between 45 and 61 - bringing the total number of people arrested to 20. Cash exceeding S$6,100 (US$4,700), mobile phones, vice-related items, controlled drugs and drug paraphernalia were seized during the operation. Five people - aged between 36 and 61 - will be charged: A 40-year-old man who allegedly managed brothels, harboured vice workers, used remote communication services to offer the sexual services of vice workers, and lived off the vice workers' earnings. A 36-year-old man who allegedly instigated others to cheat and rent premises which would be misused as brothels, and allowed a bank account that did not belong to him to be used to receive prostitution payments. Two men aged 44 and 61, and a 56-year-old woman, who were allegedly the occupiers of the premises, allowed them to be used as brothels. Additionally, two men and a woman aged between 33 and 39 were charged under the Women's Charter for allegedly facilitating the operation of an online vice syndicate. A 40-year-old woman received a warning from the police for using remote communication services to offer the sexual services of vice workers. Another 50-year-old man was investigated by the Central Narcotics Bureau for drug-related offences. Investigations against the remaining 10 suspects are ongoing, said the police. Under the Women's Charter, a person convicted of managing a brothel may face a fine of not more than S$100,000, a jail term of up to five years, or both, For bringing a girl or woman into Singapore for the purpose of prostitution, a person may face a jail term of up to seven years and a fine of up to S$100,000. Jail terms of up to seven years and a fine of up to S$100,000 may also be imposed if a person knowingly solicits, receives, or agrees to receive any gratification as an inducement or reward for providing any service which aids the prostitution of another person. Any person in or outside the country who uses a remote communication service with a Singapore link that offers or facilitates the provision of sexual services in Singapore in return for payment may be liable to a fine of up to S$100,000, or a jail term not exceeding five years, or both. If convicted of cheating, a person may face a jail term of up to 10 years and a fine. For providing payment services illegally, the person may face a fine of up to S$125,000, a jail term of up to three years or both.
