9-3-2024 (SINGAPORE) Dozens of men and women, including scantily clad women attempting to flee, were arrested during a raid on an Orchard Road KTV lounge as Singaporean authorities intensify their efforts to clamp down on illicit activities at entertainment outlets and massage parlours.
The police confirmed that a total of 14 men and 48 women were apprehended during the four-day operation that took place from February 28 to March 2. The individuals are currently under investigation.
Led by the Tanglin Police Division, the raid on March 2 at a KTV establishment in Far East Shopping Centre was part of a five-hour blitz that began at 10 pm. The operation involved over 30 officers from various agencies, including the Singapore Police Force, Ministry of Manpower, Singapore Civil Defence Force, Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, and Health Sciences Authority (HSA).
During the raid, witnessed by The Straits Times and other media outlets, plain-clothes officers suddenly switched on the lights in the usually dimly lit lounge, catching the predominantly male patrons off guard. As a result, shoes, bags, and a mobile phone were scattered across the floor as women attempted to flee.
The KTV joint featured a few private rooms with doors that had small glass strips allowing visibility from the outside. According to licensing requirements, operators of KTV lounges must ensure public decency and are prohibited from using anything that obstructs the view of the rooms, such as curtains or decorations.
Approximately 48 women, mostly foreigners, were apprehended in two rooms and subjected to searches. In one private room, a male customer was found in possession of a banned electronic vaporiser but initially refused to provide his e-mail details. However, after officers from the HSA intervened, he eventually relented and surrendered the device.
Earlier, at approximately 10 pm, officers also conducted a raid on a KTV lounge in the basement of Cuppage Plaza, which featured 18 private rooms. Male patrons were required to remain seated in their rooms while their particulars were checked, while around 25 scantily clad women were held in a separate room for identity verification. Female officers conducted searches of the women’s bags and personal belongings to ensure no dangerous or illegal items were present, including weapons, drugs, or vaporisers.
Over the course of the five-hour operation, a total of 29 individuals were arrested. Twelve women were arrested under the Women’s Charter for providing sexual services, while two men and eight women, aged between 21 and 43, were apprehended for offences under the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act (EFMA). Additionally, six women, aged between 23 and 34, including one detained for labour offences, were arrested for suspected drug-related offences. Moreover, a 54-year-old man was arrested under the Societies Act, and a 58-year-old woman was taken into custody under the Criminal Procedure Code. Authorities seized 16 vaporisers during the raids.
The four-day operation also targeted massage parlours in various locations, including Balestier Road, Orchard Road, Thomson Road, and River Valley Road, as well as illegal gambling activities in Whampoa.
Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Cheong Chee Ming, the commander of the Tanglin Police Division, stated that similar operations are expected to continue. SAC Cheong emphasized the commitment to collaborate closely with other law enforcement agencies to take decisive action against those involved in illicit activities.
