A Nigerian businessman who paid $80 for the sexual services of a 16-year-old prostitute in Geylang was jailed for 12 weeks on Thursday.

Okeke Chidi Chidon, 36, pleaded guilty to commercial sex with a minor at a lodging house in Jalan Molek on June 22 last year. A district court heard that Okeke, who is married, approached the girl who was soliciting along Lorong 22 Geylang on June 22 last year and asked if she was a prostitute. He also asked how much she charged for her sexual services.

She quoted $100 and he bargained it down to $80. She took him to the lodging house nearby and paid $6 to rent the room. While they were there, a party of police officers conducted a check and took down the particulars of Okeke, who was released on the spot. The girl who did not have her particulars and was escorted to Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation where she was found to be below 18.

Okeke was arrested at Changi Airport on Sept 23.He could have been jailed for up to seven years and/or fined for commercial sex with a person below 18 years old.