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Sep 15, 2008
5,400 foreign sex workers caught
Associate Prof Ho Peng Kee said the 5,400 foreign sex workers were arrested in more 900 vice-related raids carried out by the police. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN
SOME 5,400 women foreigners were arrested for vice-related activities last year, Parliament was told on Monday.
Of these, 4,900 or 91 per cent were in Singapore on social visit passes, said Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs, Associate Prof Ho Peng Kee.
Replying to queries from Mr Christopher de Souza, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, during question time, Prof Ho said as a percentage of all social visit passes issued last year, the number of such arrests represents an abuse rate of 0.03 per cent.
'There will always be a very small number among those who come to Singapore who enter under the pretext of social visits but engage in vice activities. This is a reality that we should expect with an open economy and with tourism as one of our key economic drivers,' said Prof Ho.
He, however, assured the House that the Ministry of Home Affairs has in place measures to detect and prevent sex workers from entering Singapore as far as possible under the guise of social visitors.
For example, he said certain nationalities are required to apply for visas prior to entering Singapore.
'This enables ICA to screen travellers against ICA's records before they even travel to Singapore. If a visa applicant has adverse records or there are irregularities in her visa application, she will not be issued with a visa,' he said.
' The visa requirements are regularly reviewed and calibrated to deal with changes in trends and the operating environment.'
When a foreigner arrives in Singapore, she is subjected to face-to-face immigration clearance by ICA officers and screened against the various border control systems.
Nevertheless, some sex workers will still slip through the system, said the minister.
He said the 5,400 foreign sex workers were arrested in more 900 vice-related raids carried out by the police.
Last year, police also prosecuted 15 pimps and 30 vice-abetters in Court.
Associate Prof Ho Peng Kee said the 5,400 foreign sex workers were arrested in more 900 vice-related raids carried out by the police. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN
5,400 foreign sex workers caught
Associate Prof Ho Peng Kee said the 5,400 foreign sex workers were arrested in more 900 vice-related raids carried out by the police. -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN
SOME 5,400 women foreigners were arrested for vice-related activities last year, Parliament was told on Monday.
Of these, 4,900 or 91 per cent were in Singapore on social visit passes, said Senior Minister of State for Law and Home Affairs, Associate Prof Ho Peng Kee.
Replying to queries from Mr Christopher de Souza, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, during question time, Prof Ho said as a percentage of all social visit passes issued last year, the number of such arrests represents an abuse rate of 0.03 per cent.
'There will always be a very small number among those who come to Singapore who enter under the pretext of social visits but engage in vice activities. This is a reality that we should expect with an open economy and with tourism as one of our key economic drivers,' said Prof Ho.
He, however, assured the House that the Ministry of Home Affairs has in place measures to detect and prevent sex workers from entering Singapore as far as possible under the guise of social visitors.
For example, he said certain nationalities are required to apply for visas prior to entering Singapore.
'This enables ICA to screen travellers against ICA's records before they even travel to Singapore. If a visa applicant has adverse records or there are irregularities in her visa application, she will not be issued with a visa,' he said.
' The visa requirements are regularly reviewed and calibrated to deal with changes in trends and the operating environment.'
When a foreigner arrives in Singapore, she is subjected to face-to-face immigration clearance by ICA officers and screened against the various border control systems.
Nevertheless, some sex workers will still slip through the system, said the minister.
He said the 5,400 foreign sex workers were arrested in more 900 vice-related raids carried out by the police.
Last year, police also prosecuted 15 pimps and 30 vice-abetters in Court.
