12 women and 3 men arrested in anti-vice police raids

Twelve women, aged between 18 and 38, and three men have been arrested in a police operation against vice-related activities.

They were rounded up in an eight-day sting operation between June 12 and last Friday, which targeted rented commercial and private residential units in the Scotts Road, Balestier Road, Mackenzie Road and Selegie Road areas.

Eleven of the women were arrested for vice-related offences under the Women's Charter, and one 29-year-old woman was arrested for offences under the Immigration Act.

A 37-year-old man was arrested for using criminal force to deter a public servant from carrying out his duties. Two men, aged 25 and 31, were arrested for suspected drug-related offences.

The owner of an unlicensed massage establishment will also be investigated, the police said in a statement on Monday.

Another four men, aged between 25 and 66, were also found inside these premises during the raids. As these men had left their residences for non-essential activities, the police issued each of them a notice of composition of $300 for flouting safe distancing rules under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

There has been an increase in vice-related activities in residential estates, facilitated by online advertising of sexual services. All property owners are responsible for ensuring that such illegal activities do not take place in their units, and should remain vigilant against suspicious or dubious tenants, the police said.

Owners and tenants who knowingly allow their premises to be used for vice-related activities will be prosecuted under the Women's Charter and could be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $3,000, or both. Repeat offenders can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to five years, or both. Those acting as agents or pimps for vice-related activities can be fined up to $10,000 and jailed for up to five years.

Action will also be taken against errant massage establishment licensees under the Massage Establishment Act, where they can be punished with a fine of up to $10,000, a jail term of up to two years, or both.

Suspected vice-related activities can be reported via the police hotline on 1800-255-0000 or online at www.police.gov.sg/iwitness.