Online brothels replacing Geylang's pimps
By Teh Joo Lin, The Straits Times, Monday 11 Jan
2010
PROSTITUTES have largely retreated from the Geylang streets with
daily anti-vice sweeps, but they are appearing elsewhere - on the
Internet.
At least seven websites are openly hawking Thai and Chinese
prostitutes, a sign that pimps are increasingly tapping technology
to sell sleaze beyond the red-light district.
The online brothels trouble counsellors who fear they make it
far too easy for people - especially the young and uninitiated - to
pay for sex.
Dr Carol Balhetchet, director of youth services at the Singapore
Children's Society, said: "The scary part is prostitution has come
to your doorstep - and it's not just available to adults."
One website displays photographs of 11 foreign prostitutes in
come-hither poses on the homepage. They have names such as Kiwi,
Ice and Cream, and their biodata and vital statistics are listed
below their pictures.
For example, Kiwi is 24 and 1.68m tall with a 25-inch waist. She is
"already in town"; her services are available at $120 for 90
minutes.
Traditionally, customers have to go to brothels in Geylang.
Pimps brief them on their latest offerings while they take their
pick.
Websites pimping for prostitutes started appearing a few years
ago. With them, deals can be closed remotely with a few mouse
clicks and SMSes.
It starts with the customer registering on the website. After
this, he tells the pimp - via SMS - who he is interested in and his
preferred time slot.
To help him make his choice, the customer relies on the photos
and "field reports" posted by previous patrons, who get 10 per cent
to 20 per cent discounts for their next sessions if they post
testimonials.
After the pimp - his mobile phone number is also listed on the
website - replies, all that remains is for the customer to visit
the designated hotel room at the appointed time. The prostitute is
paid in cash after the transaction.
A middle-aged customer said the online brothels are a convenient
and discreet outlet since there is no longer a need to venture to
the red-light district. The hotels - budget hotels in Bugis,
Lavender and Little India - all fall outside the Geylang area.
Geylang was the scene of daily raids by anti-vice authorities
for most of last year. The police did not provide enforcement
figures for the past 12 months.
The brothels are still operating, but streetwalkers are now few
and far between. Back in 2007, for example, so many prostitutes
crowded the streets on some nights that it was difficult to drive
through.
While Geylang residents are happy at the improvement, pimps and
owners of shops and hotels have complained of a dip in business
there. There are also concerns that the prostitutes have moved
elsewhere to ply their trade.
A pimp said: "We're going to starve to death already. The China
girls have all gone to Pearl's Centre."
Islandwide, about 5,050 foreign women were arrested for vice
activities in 2008, compared to 5,400 in 2007.
To queries on the Geylang enforcement, a police spokesman said:
"Police conduct regular islandwide enforcement operations against
vice."
Asked about the online brothels, the spokesman would only say:
"Police will investigate reports made and take action if any
offence is disclosed."
The police did not say whether anyone has been arrested in
connection with the online brothels.
Dr Balhetchet said there should be more safeguards on the
Internet to protect the young from such websites.
She said: "The scary part about the young is, they want to
experiment. Now, they don't need to go to Geylang...Prostitution
can be more gypsy-like...In that sense, it's risky."
[email protected]
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no wonder angel7030 keeps complaining no business at her his
pub, brothel.