Woman, 20, charged with trafficking minor for sex; 8 men charged with paying girl for sex

They are all Singaporean men: Muhammad Ngasri Sengngari, 35; Wilfred Ang Shui Lai, 34; Irham Hussaini Mohamad Hussain, 24; Muhamad Haziq Bakatiar, 23; Muhammad Ameerulah Noor Mohamed, 27; Syahirul Daud Abdul Razak, 26; Muhammad ‘Aizat Khalis Daud, 38; and Fazal Hanafi Abdul Hameed Chaudhry, 41.

The accused woman also allegedly worked with another unidentified person to deceive three people on Telegram into paying for sexual services that were not provided.

The police said in a statement that they had arrested all nine people after investigating the sexual exploitation of two minors who were below the age of 18 at the time.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the 20-year-old woman had allegedly exploited both victims by facilitating their provision of paid sex and profiting from the arrangements.

The identities of the eight men were established via follow-up investigations.

If convicted of obtaining for consideration the sexual services of a minor, the men can be jailed for up to seven years each and fined.

The woman faces up to 10 years’ jail and a fine of up to S$100,000 for recruiting a person for the purpose of exploitation under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act.

Had she been a man, she would have faced up to six strokes of the cane.

For receiving payment in connection with the trafficking, she faces the same penalties.

If convicted of living in part on the earnings of sex work, she can be jailed for up to seven years, fined up to S$100,000, or both.