Whampoa: Going All In
A coffee shop in a neighbourhood along Whampoa Drive quietened down when Police officers arrived on scene to carry out enforcement checks on patrons. Their mission? To root out possible offenders for illegal gambling.
Officers questioned suspects at a number of tables while bundles of cash and other items of evidence were packed into clear bags for subsequent processing. Of those questioned, two were suspected to be bookmakers while the rest had placed bets.
Following these checks, eight individuals aged between 59 and 88 years old were arrested for suspected offences under the Gambling Control Act 2022. One of them was also found in possession of a knife, an offence punishable by the Penal Code 1871.
Once investigations concluded, all eight of them were escorted to Police vans.
Orchard Road: Turning Off the Music
As soon as the operation at the coffee shop concluded, officers wasted no time and proceeded to the next hit: a public entertainment outlet at Far East Shopping Centre.
Inside an unobtrusive KTV lounge, what was supposed to be a lively and raucous environment turned hushed as officers secured the area.
Squeezing through narrow hallways, officers separated the suspected hostesses and patrons into different rooms. Inside two of the rooms, female subjects covered their faces as officers verified their particulars. Inside the other rooms, patrons were checked and questioned.
Among the female subjects, 22 were arrested for offences under the Women’s Charter 1961 and Employment of Foreign Manpower Act 1990.
Fighting Crime
During this series of enforcement operations, Police also targeted illegal gambling activities in Toa Payoh, which led to the arrest of three individuals. At another public entertainment outlet along Orchard Road, four more women were arrested for similar offences as those at Far East Shopping Centre.
According to Commander of Tanglin Police Division, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Cheong Chee Ming, such efforts demonstrate the SPF’s commitment to keeping our streets safe. “We will continue to work closely with other law enforcement agencies to take tough actions against those involved in illicit activities,” he said. “Offenders will be dealt with firmly in accordance with the law.”
