10 arrests made, 14 unlicensed massage parlours found during two-week crackdown

[skyleon]

PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO

Zaihan Mohamed Yusof


SINGAPORE - With five closed circuit television cameras pointing towards the walkway leading to the second floor shophouse unit and a security door in place, staff at a facial spa on Upper Thomson Road should have been prepared for any visitors.

Yet three female employees and two of their male clients were caught off-guard when the police came knocking - and discovered it was an unlicensed massage establishment.

The random enforcement check by officers from the Bishan Neighbourhood Police Centre (NPC) was part of an intensive two-week islandwide operation targeting unlicensed and errant massage parlours.

On Thursday (March 15) the Singapore Police Force revealed that it arrested 10 women for offences under the Women's Charter and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

Fourteen massage parlours were also found to have been operating without a valid licence.

Officers checked 41 establishments across 15 neighbourhoods from March 1 to 14.

Police stepped up checks in the wake of the new Massage Establishments (ME) Act which came into force on March 1, giving them more bite in weeding out unlicensed massage parlours and errant landlords.

Those who flout the law now will face significantly higher penalties like imprisonment of up to two years and a maximum fine of $10,000.

The ME Act also restricts operating hours for most licensed massage parlours.

Commanding Officer for Bishan NPC Michael Ben Chee said: "The new ME Act... will equip the police with stronger levers to deal with vice activities and law and order problems in massage establishments."

The number of unlicensed massage establishments detected by police increased by 40 per cent between 2013 and 2016

There were about 300 such errant operators found in 2016, with 7 per cent operating in HDB properties and 40 per cent engaging in vice-related offences.

Some unlicensed spas operate 24 hours and provide sexual services, often near HDB flats.

Although the establishment visited by officers at Upper Thomson Road is meant to be a facial spa, a massage bed was found in one of its rooms.

Journalists were allowed into the premises during the two-hour enforcement operation.

Three foreign women - two wearing short dresses and one in denim shorts and a t-shirt - were overheard speaking in Mandarin, explaining to the police the nature of their work at the spa.

Officers checked the other rooms for incriminating evidence.

In one room there was a tablet in showing five 'live' camera views of the walkway outside.

The women's immigration documents and work permits were all in order but while no arrests were made, the facial spa was found to have provided unlicensed massages.


continue reading here : http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...uring-two-week

[ibanezjem555]

Aiya... like that police so actsy borak.. knnb.. Keppel millions of dollars dont want to investigate...

[conquer]

Look, there is a bunch of flowers on the table. It must be from one of the carrot-head costumers...


Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...uring-two-week

[StarZone]

Thanks for sharing with us.

[StarZone]

Avoid those illegal MP

[paul55ho]

Aiyo my Cindy Spa bo liao....

[yamashikata]

Originally Posted by skyleon

The women's immigration documents and work permits were all in order but while no arrests were made, the facial spa was found to have provided unlicensed massages.

I dont understand this part. If the shop is unlicensed, how come the work permits were in order ?

Unlicensed shop can issue work permit ?

[afterburn]

Originally Posted by yamashikata

I dont understand this part. If the shop is unlicensed, how come the work permits were in order ?

Unlicensed shop can issue work permit ?

Facial spa has biz license and thus employees have permits. It's just that they cannot provide massages, which come under different set of rules.

I find it distasteful though that they allow journalists to tag along for raids with the express purpose of humiliating the women. It's pure bullying.

[yamashikata]

Originally Posted by afterburn

Facial spa has biz license and thus employees have permits. It's just that they cannot provide massages, which come under different set of rules.

Oh i got it.... thanks

[jacky43]

I might have posted in this website yrs ago. 8 Yrs ago. Many such women will married local men who were willing to drop away his family. Not to forget from former PRC KTV girl Lu Lu. How the hell she stayed n this country and, after leaving her trade. She can lived in this country?

Who knew about this girl and protect her from the police?

[conquer]

Originally Posted by paul55ho

Aiyo my Cindy Spa bo liao....

Cindy Spa? Sounds like you have been patronizing this joint... any interesting shit happened inside you wanna share?

[HKKCK]

Thanks for sharing

[ibanezjem555]

Police checked a total of 41 massage parlours across 15 areas such as Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Changi, Orchard, Tanjong Pagar, Jalan Besar, Jurong West and Toa Payoh from 1 March to 14 March, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a statement on Thursday (15 March). Fourteen of the parlours were found to be operating without a valid license, SPF added.
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/ten-women-...085133720.html

[luckyboiboi]

too many such spas and massage places.

[paul55ho]

Originally Posted by conquer

Cindy Spa? Sounds like you have been patronizing this joint... any interesting shit happened inside you wanna share?

Lol. They got a few BIG BOOBS viet girls there. Stone throw from my place so convenient to release. Lucky I not there wen they raid bo knn liao.