S'porean man, 40, allegedly harboured 10 women for prostitution purposes in Geylang & Balestier, absconded to Thailand on bail

A 40-year-old man was charged in court on Mar. 18 for allegedly harbouring 10 women for prostitution purposes in Singapore.

He then absconded to Thailand while out on bail.

Philip Ong Zhihe, a Singaporean, allegedly harboured the women from April to October 2024 in Geylang and Minbu Road in Balestier.

The women are believed to have entered Singapore for the purposes of prostitution, according to charge sheets seen by Mothership.

There is a gag order in place to protect the identities of the women.

Alleged vice-related, illegal drug activities

Ong was one of 17 individuals who were arrested in an islandwide raid on vice and drug activities on Oct. 21, 2024.

Charge sheets showed that he had possessed and consumed methamphetamine.

He was also charged for using a phone to manage the provision of sexual services by a Thai woman in December 2023.

Ong was subsequently released on court bail, with his passport impounded.

But he did not attend his court mention on Dec. 12, 2024, and an arrest warrant was issued against him.

Absconded, arrested

Police investigations revealed that he had absconded from Singapore through illegal means of departure.

He was eventually found in the Chonburi province in Thailand.

Ong was arrested by the Royal Thai Police in Thailand during a Feb. 24 transnational operation jointly conducted by Singapore and Thailand.

He was subsequently deported and re-arrested upon his arrival in Singapore on Mar. 17.

Investigations found that Ong had apparently continued operating vice activities in Singapore while he was in Thailand.

On the day of his arrest, the police arrested three women aged between 25 and 38 in the vicinity of River Valley Road and Geylang Lorong 32 for their suspected involvement in vice-related offences.

The police said investigations against these women are ongoing.

Ong's case will be heard in court again on Mar. 25.

Penalties

If convicted of knowingly living wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person, he could be jailed for up to seven years and fined up to S$100,000.

If convicted of illegal departure, he could be jailed for up to six months, fined up to S$2,000, or both.

If convicted of absconding or breaking conditions of bail, he could be jailed for up to three years, fined, or both.

Top photo via AFP