Webmaster of online vice ring gets a month's jail

Sze Jia Wei, 26, a hostel manager who moonlighted as the webmaster of an online vice ring, was jailed for a month on Wednesday. He had pleaded guilty to living off the immoral earnings of two Thai prostitutes between May 28 last year and Jan 2. -- ST
Sze Jia Wei, 26, a hostel manager who moonlighted as the webmaster of an online vice ring, was jailed for a month on Wednesday. He had pleaded guilty to living off the immoral earnings of two Thai prostitutes between May 28 last year and Jan 2. -- ST FILE PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG

A hostel manager who moonlighted as the webmaster of an online vice ring, was jailed for a month on Wednesday. Sze Jia Wei, 26, had pleaded guilty to living off the immoral earnings of two Thai prostitutes between May 28 last year and Jan 2.

The court heard that Sze's close friend, Chow Tai Gheng, who was then a full-time national serviceman, was facing financial difficulties because of his father's medical bills. To earn extra income, he roped in Sze to launch the website to offer sexual services in January last year.

Police raided Chow's flat in Old Choa Chu Kang Road on Jan 3 this year. The duo and the two prostitutes were arrested the same day. Arguing for a fine, defence counsel Lee Ah Fong said that his client played a "minor role". Disagreeing, District Judge Ng Peng Hong said that Sze "managed the IT side of a syndicated vice operation".

Chow was sentenced to 15 months in jail on Tuesday for living off immoral earnings and other offences.

khush@sph.com.sg

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