399 under probe after raids on massage, entertainment outlets

A massage parlour allegedly solicited customers seeking sexual services through a website, and in a raid on the unit located on the second storey of a shophouse along Temple Street in Chinatown last Friday, five women and a man were arrested and condoms and bottles of lubricants were seized.

The Straits Times, which accompanied officers from the Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defence Force and Central Narcotics Bureau during a joint operation that day, also witnessed another raid on an unlicensed unit in Race Course Road which offered massage services but was masquerading as a spa.

The raids were part of an islandwide operation conducted by the police on 159 massage establishments and 110 public entertainment outlets between Oct 24 and last Saturday, and 399 people are under investigation.

In a statement yesterday, the police said it is believed that 63 licensed and unlicensed massage establishments committed various breaches under the Massage Establishments Act and the Massage Establishment Rules 2018.

The breaches include providing massage services in an unlicensed massage establishment and failing to ensure that employees do not provide sexual services.

Investigations against 131 people, including operators, masseuses and customers, are ongoing.

The police also said in the statement yesterday that 28 licensed and unlicensed public entertainment and nightlife outlets are believed to have committed various breaches under the Public Entertainments Act, the Liquor Control Act and the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020.

Investigations against 160 people, including operators, staff members and customers, are ongoing.

The remaining 108 people are under investigation for suspected drug offences, gambling offences, cheating and Covid-19 safe management breaches.

Many of the massage establishments and public entertainment outlets "don't abide by safe management measures... they present a significant risk to public health", said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Lee Huan Ting, deputy commander of Central Police Division, after last Friday's operation.

"This joint operation... is part of the police's ongoing efforts to clamp down on illegal activities. We have observed vice activities taking place at illegal massage establishments. We have also seen illegal gambling activities taking place at residential units.

"We have taken enforcement action against them and we will continue to do so in the near future."

Last Friday, the police also conducted checks on an office-cum-retail unit in Beach Road and a shophouse unit in Keong Saik Road.

Two men, aged 66 and 68, were allegedly found to be operating and managing the units as private spaces for mahjong.

Six men and three women, aged between 62 and 76, were allegedly found in the units playing mahjong.

All 11 are being investigated for offences under the Common Gaming House Act.