SINGAPORE — A lawyer was today (July 19) sentenced to four months’ jail for paying a Vietnamese underage escort for sex. He was found guilty by District Judge Toh Yung Cheong on July 12.

Sixty-year-old Spencer Gwee Hak Theng was convicted of paying a 16-year-old escort S$300 for sexual services in July 2011. Under the law, it is an offence to have commercial sex with someone under 18 years of age.

Gwee, a former prosecutor, had contested the charge in February. His line of defence during the trial was that he did not know the girl, did not have sex with her, and did not pay her.

However, Judge Toh found the minor to be a credible witness who gave evidence with minor inconsistencies. He also said Gwee was not a credible witness.

Today, defence lawyer Subhas Anandan said in mitigation that Gwee has had no antecedents. The court also heard the contributions of Gwee as a lawyer and former prosecutor.

In particular, Mr Anandan pointed out that the escort had told Gwee she was 19, making her older than she was.

Referring to the case of the Swiss national, Juerg Buergin, who was sentenced to four months and three weeks’ jail for similar offences, the prosecution pushed for a jail term of six months.

Immediately after the jail term was handed down, Gwee instructed his lawyer to appeal against both the conviction and sentence.

Gwee, who was accompanied to court by his wife, is out on bail. CHANNEL NEWSASIA