Shing Hotel owner tries to change his guilty plea
By Shaff iq Alkhatib | Posted: 12 May 2010 1236 hrs
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="260"> <tbody><tr> <td align="right" width="20">
</td> <td align="right" width="240">
</td> <td class="update" height="80" valign="top"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="138">Photos </td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="47">1 of 1</td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="18"><input disabled="disabled" id="btnPrev" value="<< Previous" onclick="Prev();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_previous.gif" height="15" type="image" width="18"></td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="19"><input id="bntPlay" value="Play - Stop" onclick="Play()" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_stop.gif" height="15" type="image" width="19"></td> <td bgcolor="#f6f6f6" width="18"><input disabled="disabled" id="btnNext" value=" Next >> " onclick="Next();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" height="15" type="image" width="18"></td> </tr> </tbody></table>
Siah Chen Long, owner of Shing Hotel. - TODAY photo</td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> <td class="update">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> </tbody></table>
SINGAPORE : The owner of Shing Hotel, who had pleaded guilty last month to allowing sex workers to ply their trade on his property, now wants to change his plea.
The lawyer for Siah Chen Long, the 52-year-old licensee of Shing Hotel at Kitchener Road, told the court that Siah was not aware of the consequences when he entered his plea.
But District Judge Shaiffudin Saruwan said he does not "see any reason for the retraction" as Siah was informed of the consequences when the charges and facts pertaining to the case were read out to him. And the request was rejected.
A hotel licensee who knowingly allows sex workers to frequent his premises breaches the Hotels Licensing Regulations. First time offenders could be fined up to S$1,000. The court may also cancel or suspend any of the hotel's certificates of registration.
The prosecution had earlier indicated that they will apply to court for Siah's license to be revoked. Siah's lawyer, Henry Lim, said he will make representations about this possible retraction of the licence. The case has been adjourned to June 9.
- CNA/il
