Two men who paid for sex with prostitutes through an
online vice syndicate could find themselves in further trouble as
some of the prostitutes may have been under the age of 18,
according to a Straits Times report.
The two men had gone searching for prostitutes on a
website that explicitly advertised the women's ages, which were
above 20, a lawyer told the paper. The lawyer is currently advising
the two men.
But both are now under investigation for possibly
having sex with prostitutes under the age of 18. It is a crime to
have paid sex with a girl under 18 under laws that were tightened
in 2008.
It is
also illegal to pimp sexual services. The report said those
who hire prostitutes through vice syndicates can be called up for
questioning as witnesses.
The pimp involved in the online vice syndicate is in
his 30s, Chinese evening daily reported on Monday.
Criminal lawyer Subhas Anandan is
representing six men involved in the investigations, the report
added. All are working in the private sector and are in their 30s
and 40s.
A former school principal and other public servants are believed to
be among the 80
men hauled in for questioning, according to other media
reports.
The 39-year-old former principal of a top school remained
uncontactable, the report added. He suddenly left the education
service in December.
Between 2010 and last year, the police have busted six online vice
syndicates, a police spokesman told the paper.
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120214-327864.html
