87 People Investigated After Police Raided 101 Massage Establishments

So you think that only nightlife establishments would be raided?

Think again.

According to the police, 101 massage establishments were raided between 13 Sep and 23 Oct. Out of the 101 establishments, 31 massage parlours were found to have breached various rules.

Some of the rules that they’ve allegedly broken are:

  • Providing massage services in an establishment without a valid licence
  • Failing to ensure the employees do not provide sexual services

10 massage parlours were found to have flouted COVID-19 regulations like allegedly failing to minimise interactions among staff members and customers. Another regulation they breached is not ensuring everyone in the premises was masked up.

87 people were investigated and 46 women were arrested for offences under the Women’s Charter and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act.

Punishments

Customers who were caught not masking up may be fined S$300 while establishments with COVID-19 breaches may be ordered to shut for over 10 days and fined S$1,000.

Offenders can also be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed up to six months or both for failing to comply with COVID-19 regulations.

Those who carry out illegal massage services may face a fine of up to S$10,000 and up to two years in prison or both. Those who still do not understand that a valid license is needed to provide massage services will face up to five years in jail, up to S$20,000 fine or both.

Those who breached the Massage Establishment Rules 2018 can be fined up to S$5,000. Those who still continue breaching Massage Establishment Rules 2018 will face up to two years behind bars, a fine of up to S$10,000 or both.

Similar Incidents

In August of this year, 45 people were investigated during an islandwide raid. The raids were conducted on massage parlours and unlicensed entertainment outlets between 9 Aug to 15 Aug.

Four women were arrested for allegedly working without a valid work permit. 11 people onsite were investigated for allegedly breaching COVID-19 restrictions as well.

If you are wondering what will happen to people who operate these outlets, well, here’s a case for you.

In another similar incident, a 58-year-old man was charged with three counts of carrying on a business providing illegal massage services. He had allegedly carried out these services illegally at three massage establishments – Brighton Crescent, Hougang Street 21, and Jalan Besar.

He could be fined up to S$20,000 and sentenced to up to five years in prison for each count.

You can read the full story here.

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