3 social escort agencies busted by police, 8 arrested

SINGAPORE — Three social escort agencies have been busted for their suspected involvement in vice-related activities, and eight people arrested,

The three men and five women, aged between 23 and 52, were arrested during a seven-hour operation mounted by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday, where raids were conducted at Geylang East Ave, Kallang Place, Flora Road and Henderson Road.

The three men are believed to have been operating the three social escort agencies, which are believed to have worked closely with each other, said the police in a statement today. The police, citing preliminary investigations, added that the men would take a cut from the earnings of social escorts involved in vice-related activities.

Investigations against the women are ongoing. The three men will be charged in Court tomorrow under the Women’s Charter.

Under Section 146 of the Woman’s Charter, any person who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person shall be liable on conviction to jail of up to five years and shall also be liable to a fine of up to S$10,000.

Head of CID’s Specialised Crime Branch, Superintendent of Police Lawrence Eng said: “Vice operators who assume that they can hide behind the ‘smokescreen’ of a social escort agency to commit criminal offences should think twice. We will find them and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”