The Police have arrested five women, aged between 32 and 43 in enforcement operations conducted against massage establishments (MEs) between 3 and 6 April 2018.
During the operations, Central Police Division checked 27 MEs located along Tanjong Pagar, Jalan Klapa, Kitchener Road, Coleman Street, North Bridge Road and Telok Blangah Crescent. 13 MEs were detected to be operating without a valid license and two licensed MEs were found to have contravened licensing conditions. Actions will be taken against the operators under the Massage Establishment Act (MEA). Police investigations are ongoing.
The Police will continue to take strong enforcement actions against unlicensed massage establishments, as well as errant licensed massage establishments.
The operators of the unlicensed MEs will be investigated and are liable for the enhanced penalties under the new MEA. If convicted, first time offenders will be sentenced to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to 2 years, or both. The maximum penalties for subsequent convictions will be doubled or more – a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.
The Police may also issue the premises closure order to require an unlicensed ME to be vacated and physically secured, if the operator continues to operate the unlicensed ME, even after he has been charged in court. If the order is not complied with, the Police are empowered to take necessary steps, and use reasonable force, to enforce the closure of the premises.
Anyone who breaches the order may face a maximum fine of $15,000, or imprisonment of up to 3 years, or both. These orders will prevent recalcitrant unlicensed ME operators from blatantly breaching the law whilst court proceedings against them are still ongoing.
The Police will also take action against landlords who knowingly lease their premises to unlicensed ME operators. The Police will notify the landlord when their tenant has been charged in court for operating an unlicensed ME. After the conviction of the tenant, the landlord must require the tenant to hand over possession of the premises within a month.
Landlords, who fail to do so, will be liable, if convicted, to a fine of up to $10,000, or imprisonment of up to 2 years, or both. The maximum penalties for subsequent convictions will be doubled or more – a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 5 years, or both.
