Former construction worker jailed 12 weeks for sex with underage prostitute

Mohamad Noor Ali, 42, now a logistics assistant, admitted to engaging in commercial sex after he paid a 17-year-old Vietnamese girl $100 for her services at Golden Star Hotel in Lorong 8 Geylang on Oct 28 last year. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW
Mohamad Noor Ali, 42, now a logistics assistant, admitted to engaging in commercial sex after he paid a 17-year-old Vietnamese girl $100 for her services at Golden Star Hotel in Lorong 8 Geylang on Oct 28 last year. -- ST PHOTO: WONG KWAI CHOW

SINGAPORE - A former construction worker was sentenced to 12 weeks' jail on Monday for paid sex with an underage prostitute.

Mohamad Noor Ali, 42, now a logistics assistant, admitted to engaging in commercial sex after he paid a 17-year-old Vietnamese girl $100 for her services at Golden Star Hotel in Lorong 8 Geylang on Oct 28 last year.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Sharmila Sripathy-Shanaz told the court that the minor, lured by the promise of fast cash, came to Singapore on Oct 16 to work as a prostitute. She started work the next day, charging customers $100 for her services.

She did not solicit for customers personally. Instead, her pimp would inform her via text message, of appointments with customers and direct her to various hotels in Geylang.

The court heard that she did not receive any payment for her first 25 customers. After her first 25 customers, she received $50 for every successful booking.

On Oct 27, Noor sent a text message to a mobile number listed on a website advertising the sexual services of various prostitutes, including the minor.

The next day, he booked a room at Golden Star Hotel in Lorong 8 Geylang and sent a text message to the pimp. The minor turned up and had sex with Noor who paid her $100. He did not verify her age at any stage.

Noor, who has a daughter by his previous marriage and re-married last year, was allowed to defer sentence until June 24.

He could have been jailed for up to seven years and/or fined for engaging in commercial sex with a person under 18 years old.

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