S’porean man, 49, acts as lookout for sex workers in Geylang, gets 33 weeks’ jail

A 49-year-old Singaporean man was sentenced to 33 weeks’ jail after acting as a lookout for sex workers in Geylang to avoid law enforcement.

A total of 19 out of the 33 weeks' jail were for breaching his remission order.

Magandran Nadarajan pleaded guilty to one charge under the Women’s Charter of receiving gratification for providing a service aiding sex work and another for aiding an attempt to obstruct justice, CNA reported.

He was sentenced on Jul. 21.

Two other charges were considered during sentencing.

Release

In June 2025, Magandran was previously convicted of a similar offence related to sex work.

He was released from jail on Dec. 27, 2025.

Magandran was on a remission order that lasted until mid-June 2026.

On the same day of his release, Magandran met his friend, identified as Subash Rao Muniandy, and discussed employment.

Subash offered Magandran the job of acting as a lookout for police officers in the Lorong 22 Geylang area.

The job reportedly paid about S$60 to S$70 a day.

Subash explained the job scope was to assist sex workers in avoiding law enforcement.

If police officers were spotted on patrol, Magandran was to contact Subash, who would then inform the sex workers.

Both men knew that these “services” were attempts to obstruct law enforcement against vice activities.

Work

Magandran accepted the job and rode his bicycle in the area from Dec. 27, 2025, to around Feb. 10, 2026.

He would look out for police officers from about 9pm to 5am and call Subash if he spotted any.

An average of around 15 sex workers would engage their services daily and pay S$10 in cash per day to Subash.

He would then split the cash and give Magandran his share of about S$60 to S$70.

A worker entered Singapore in December 2025.

She plied her illegal sex trade through the introduction of a friend.

Around Dec. 27, 2025, Subash approached the worker while she was soliciting and offered her the look-out services for S$10 a day.

She agreed and paid him S$10 in cash on 48 occasions, with a total gratification of S$480 as a reward for services aiding sex work.

The police eventually received intelligence about the services provided by the men.

The pair was subsequently arrested on Feb. 10 at Lorong 22 Geylang.

Repeat

The prosecution sought 14 to 17 weeks' jail for Magandran and an additional term of 19 to 23 weeks for breaching his remission order.

They argued that Magandran was a repeat offender who repeatedly attempted to commit the offences almost daily for over two-and-a-half months.

The prosecution also said Magandran had low rehabilitative prospects as he committed the offences on the day he was released from jail.

As a repeat offender, he could have been jailed up to 10 years and fined up to S$150,000 for receiving gratification to aid sex work.

For aiding an attempt to obstruct justice, an offender can be jailed up to seven years, fined, or both.

Subash's case is pending.