Online vice ring: Accused admits to sex with minor, but only after they 'became friends'

The business consultant, who is facing two counts of having paid sex with an underage escort, admitted that he did have sex with the girl - but only after they became friends.

Edward Whistler Goh Ngian Meng, the second man claiming trial in the online vice ring case, revealed in court on Thursday that those trysts took place in 2011, and that he had contacted the girl directly.

The first two times they met in September and October of 2010, were arranged through an online social escort forum and through the girl's pimp.

The 50-year-old claims they did not have sex on those occasions, although he had paid the girl, who was under 18 at the time, for her services. It was not revealed in court proceedings if he had paid her during their subsequent encounters.

Testifying at a trial within a trial to determine if his police statement should be admitted as evidence, Goh said that he met the girl four to five times in 2011, and even baked a few cakes for her. It was during these meetings that they had sexual intercourse.

He also told the court that although he told Criminal Investigation Department investigation officer Nor Faizal Yahya about this when his statement was being recorded, the Senior Staff Sergeant was not interested and did not ask him follow up questions.

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