Vice-related raids: 62 women arrested in 38-day islandwide operation

SINGAPORE — After a 38-day islandwide operation which ended on Sept 17, the police have arrested 62 women for their suspected involvement in vice-related activities.

In a news release on Thursday (Oct 1), the police said that the women were aged between 21 and 51. The police did not specify the nationalities of the women nabbed or the nature of the alleged vice activities.

In the operation, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the seven Police land divisions conducted coordinated raids at multiple locations islandwide.

These included condominiums, hotels and residential units at Jalan Bukit Merah, Race Course Road, Telok Blangah Road, Geylang, Yishun and Woodlands.

Investigations are ongoing, the police said.

The authorities have observed an increase in the number of vice activities in residential estates “facilitated by the use of online platforms to advertise vice-related services and to solicit for clients”.

PROPERTY OWNERS HAVE A PART TO PLAY

In a reminder, the police said that property owners have a responsibility to ensure that such illicit activities do not take place in their properties.

They should exercise vigilance and look out for suspicious or dubious tenants.

This includes verifying the identity of a prospective tenant and his or her purpose of the tenancy before entering into a tenancy agreement or allowing the prospective tenant to start occupying the apartment.

Tenants who sublet their private property should also adopt similar checks before they sublet the property, the police said.

They warned that home owners or tenants who fail to exercise reasonable diligence or knowingly rent out their properties for vice activities may be prosecuted.

Those found guilty may be jailed for a maximum of five years, fined up to S$100,000 or both while repeat offenders face harsher punishments.

The police said that Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat owners are responsible for conducting regular checks to ensure that their tenants do not misuse the flat, further rent out any part of the flat, or create nuisance to their neighbours.

“HDB takes a serious view of flat owners and tenants who violate such conditions, particularly if the flat is misused for vice activities, and will not hesitate to take the appropriate action against them,” the police warned.

They added that the authorities will also take stern action against those found acting as agents or pimps for vice activities.

Those found guilty of such acts may be jailed for up to seven years and fined up to S$100,000. Repeat offenders may be jailed for up to 10 years, fined up to S$100,000 and caned.