Singapore police said on Friday that four foreign women have been arrested on Thursday for their suspected involvement in vice-related activities. According to the authorities, three of the women are from Russia and one is from Uzbekistan, and their ages range between 26 and 39.
The police said in a press release that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers conducted simultaneous raids in Raffles Boulevard, Tanjong Katong Road and Cairnhill Road on Thursday and arrested those foreigners.
The police said the women allegedly made use of their stay in Singapore on valid work passes to commit vice-related offences.
The preliminary investigations revealed that the vice syndicate has been advertising the sexual services of women on at least 10 different online platforms, including Backpage, Skokka, Yelp and other dedicated vice websites.
The police added that the syndicate claimed to provide high-class escort services at rates starting from S$500 an hour, and potential customers can book the girls' services via mobile phone numbers or email addresses provided on the websites.
At least 13 mobile phones, four laptops, a tablet computer, condoms and related documents were seized as case exhibits during the operation.
On Saturday, a 39-year-old suspect will be charged under the Women's Charter, while investigations are going on for the other three suspects.
According to the Women's Charter, if anyone knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person, he might face up to five years of jail and a fine of up to S$10,000.
