Lovers get real
Private eyes say carparks favoured by
illicit couples
Many want to avoid hotel CCTV cameras and
credit card paper trails
REPORT: ZUL OTHMAN
When court papers revealed where former
Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) chief Peter Benedict Lim Sin
Pang allegedly carried out his sexual trysts, noticeably missing
were hotels in Singapore.
Most of the acts were allegedly done in secluded car parks.
The reason, say private investigators (PIs), could be
closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in hotel lobbies.
Most cheating spouses are getting quite cautious, say
PIs.
These days, it is not unusual for investigators to trail
cheating spouses to carparks and secluded parks.
Many prefer these dark and isolated places to budget
hotels because of the high chance of being recognised in the
latter.
On Wednesday, Lim was slapped with 10 charges of
corruption in the Subordinate Courts in a sex-for-contracts
scandal.
Courts papers revealed that he had sex with three women
at various locations, including carparks at Big Splash, Marina Bay
Golf Course and the Singapore Indoor Stadium, apartments and a
Paris hotel.
Private investigators told The New Paper on Sunday that
many cheating spouses prefer to hold their trysts in public places
over a hotel room for fear of being recognised.
"I've trailed subjects who do it in cars because they
think it's safer," says Me Dennis Lee, 42, of Convert
Investigation. His company serves both private and commercial
clients.
Adds Mr Lee: "These men and Women I've encountered prefer
outdoor trysts because they don't want to be registered in a hotel
or be caught by a CCTV camera."
"And most times, they pay for their outings in cash, not
with credit cards, so that they won't arouse their spouses '
suspicions when the bills arrive," he added.
Mr Lawrence Koh, an investigator with SK investigation
Services, agrees that love hotels are losing their sway with the
subjects he has trailed recently.
He explains: "Many of the love hotels now insist on two
identity cards upon registration and not too many of (the cheating
spouses) are willing to be registered for fear of being found
out."
"Recently, I have seen more cases of those having affairs
shifting chalets for more privacy."
But it is not only about shifting locations
to avoid detection.
Other PIs TNPS spoke to say their subjects
have also turned to technology to hide their dalliances.
For example, they now communicate with their lovers via
WhatsApp instead of SMS.
The former, a moblie phone messaging app, offers features
such as unlimited characters in every message, group chats and the
option to send photos and videos.
One investigator who declined to be identified explains:
"Many prefer WhatsApp simply because SMS messages will be shown on
the detailed billing record and incease their chances of being
found out."
But debt collector Simon Lim, who used to be a PI,
maintains that the ex-SCDF chef's outdoor escapades, if true, could
be driven more by thrill than of fear of being recognised.
He says: "Nobody recognises you unless you're a
celebrity. Many of the cheating cases I've encountered happen
outdoors only because they're are thrill-seekers.
"People will turn to hotels - especially those with
hidden parking spaces - because these establishments put a premium
on discretion.
"These hotels will record information, but won't say
anything unless they suspect the girl is a prostitute or is
underage."
People, The New Paper, Sunday, June 10 2012, Pg 9
