Online vice ring: Businessman charged with paid sex

A twelfth man was charged in court on Monday for commercial sex with a 16-year-old girl in an online prostitution ring case.

Businessman Ng Kheng Siang, 43, is alleged to have paid $330 for the sexual services of the student at Hotel Nostalgia, Tiong Bahru Road, on Feb 25.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Stella Tan Wei Ling applied for a gag order to protect the victim's identity.

Ng's lawyer Paul Loy said he had just been instructed and asked for the case to be adjourned to review the matter.

Ng's police bail has been extended and his passport impounded. He will be back in court on July 22.

Last Wednesday, 10 men were charged in court with similarly having paid for the sexual services of the same girl. Three pleaded guilty and were jailed for 12 weeks each while the 11th man, Payton Scott Velo, 44, a senior manager of a multinational corporation, failed to show up in court as he had attempted suicide on Tuesday night. His case will be mentioned on July 3.

If convicted, Ng faces a jail term of up to seven years and/or a fine.

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