In a recent development, Singaporean authorities uncovered an illicit brothel after a concerned individual reported a distressing incident involving a Thai woman on a third-floor ledge of a residential building in Jalan Besar on April 8. The woman, identified as 38-year-old Sukphansa Jongdee, was subsequently sentenced to prison on Monday after pleading guilty to the charge of profiting from the prostitution of another person.
The incident unfolded when a passerby noticed Sukphansa standing on the ledge, frantically calling out for assistance from a person named “David” who failed to show up. Fearing for her safety and the possibility of her jumping, the passerby promptly contacted the police, leading to their swift arrival at the scene.
Once rescued from the perilous position, Sukphansa, a Thai national, informed the authorities that she had ventured onto the ledge after finding herself trapped inside the room due to a faulty door lock.
Upon entering the premises, law enforcement officials discovered a cache of lubricants and condoms concealed within six separate rooms. One woman found inside the establishment revealed to the police that she worked as a prostitute there.
Subsequently, on Monday, Sukphansa pleaded guilty to the charge of “living on the earnings of the prostitution of another person,” an offense that violates the Woman’s Charter. As a result, she received an eight-week prison sentence from the court.
Further investigation by the police revealed that Sukphansa had been residing in Singapore unlawfully. She initially entered the city-state as a tourist on January 11, 2023, but her authorized stay expired on February 10, 2023.
According to Sukphansa, she encountered an individual named “Wan” who secured her a cleaning job, paying S$50 (approximately 1,300 baht) per day. Unfortunately, she lost her passport but neglected to report it.
Subsequently, Wan introduced Sukphansa to another Thai woman named “One” who offered her an alternative job opportunity. In her new role, Sukphansa was tasked with various responsibilities, including cleaning, running errands, procuring daily supplies for the prostitutes, handling documents, and collecting earnings from the prostitutes in the syndicate’s two residential units. She received a daily wage of S$100, which was deducted from the prostitutes’ earnings.
During the investigation, an anonymous prostitute who spoke to the police disclosed that Sukphansa commenced working at the establishment on April 1 of this year. The informant indicated that the Thai woman was responsible for managing the finances and client records of four prostitutes, having received S$400 from their earnings.
A prosecutor remarked on Monday that Sukphansa exhibited a lack of remorse and had been deceitful by providing false addresses to the police during their inquiry.
Considering the severity of the offense, the eight-week prison sentence handed down to Sukphansa appears relatively lenient when compared to the maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to S$100,000 for the charge.
