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A Singaporean man who acted as the Singapore agent to nine Thai sex workers and arranged their lodging, has been sentenced to 15 months' jail on Wednesday (Aug. 11).

The 58-year-old man, Tan Boon Kheng, was also punished for his involvement in a vice ring here.

Nine charges, eight related to prostitution

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Tan faced nine charges, of which eight were related to prostitution.

Of these eight charges, four were for harbouring a woman and the other four were for receiving a woman, all of which were for the purpose of prostitution.

The remaining charge was for an unrelated offence, where Tan retained the criminal proceeds of S$18,300 on behalf of another man.

Tan pleaded guilty to this charge, and four of the prostitution charges, according to CNA.

The other four charges were taken into consideration during his sentencing.

Received and housed sex workers

Tan got involved in the vice trade in 2018.

He was enlisted by his friend, Ah Beng, who knew a Thai woman who could provide sexual services in Singapore and told Tan it could be lucrative.

Lured by the prospect of making money, Tan agreed to receive nine sex workers, and signed a tenancy agreement for an apartment to house them.

To boost business, Tan later rented a lodging house in Geylang, where he told the sex workers to provide their services from there.

Some time later, he received four Thai sex workers at Golden Mile Complex on four separate days in August 2018.

Tan arrested, absconded, and arrested

The lodging house in Geylang was raided by the police in September 2018, according to CNA.

Four women were arrested, two of whom Tan had hired, along with Tan's co-accused, who had some S$3,600 cash on him.

Tan's own arrest came soon after, and his phone was seized.

In the follow-up raid at several locations, the police found nine Thai passports.

According to CNA, Tan had withheld the sex workers' passports, so as to make them fulfil their contracts, and also pay Tan S$1,200 to get their passports back.

However, Tan absconded after he was charged in May 2019.

He was re-arrested in March 2021.

Singapore agent for prostitutes involved in vice ring

Deputy Public Prosecutor Emily Koh noted that no coercion or violence, was used on the sex workers, and they had willingly participated in sex work.

Koh sought a 15 to 16-month jail term for Tan.

Koh said Tan was the "Singapore agent" for these prostitutes, as he had sourced for the sex workers' accommodation, and was in contact with them through Ah Beng.

She also cited his heavy and active involvement in the vice ring.

During mitigation, Tan said he was old, had multiple illnesses, in particular heart disease, and he had a pacemaker and had undergone an operation.

The judge ordered for his sentence to be backdated to the date of his remand in March 2021.

For prostitution related charges, those found guilty can be sentenced up to five years in jail, and a fine of up to S$10,000.

For the retention of criminal proceeds, those found guilty can be sentenced up to 10 years in jail, and a fine of up to S$$500,000, or both.

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