A 25-year-old Malaysian man, Goh Boon Hong, was sentenced to one year in jail and fined $4,000 on June 30, 2025, for his role in running an online vice syndicate that recruited Japanese women for prostitution in Singapore.
Goh pleaded guilty to five charges, including harbouring women for the purpose of prostitution and living on the earnings of prostitution. He had joined the syndicate in August 2024 under the employment of Wong Chi San, and initially received a 10 per cent commission on earnings, which later increased to 20 per cent.
After Wong was arrested in January 2025, Goh took over the operations of the syndicate. Court documents did not provide further information regarding Wong's charges or current legal status.
In February 2025, Goh invited a 26-year-old Japanese woman, referred to in court documents as A1, to provide sexual services in Singapore. A1 worked in the city from February to March, and also brought in her 27-year-old friend, A2, to join the vice operation.
The prostitution activities were carried out over nine days at a luxury hotel in Marina Bay Sands, where both women served clients and earned significant sums.
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A1 had 44 customers, earning S$14,800, and was paid 1.24 million yen (approximately S$10,900) by Goh.
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A2 serviced 37 clients, earning S$11,100, and received 830,000 yen from Goh.
Goh partnered with Zhang Kai, a Chinese national, who assisted by booking hotel rooms and setting up makeshift facilities within the bathrooms of those rooms. Zhang was paid $50 per day per room, and was also compensated for additional tasks, including installing inflatable beds and providing massage gels in the bathrooms.
Initially, Goh paid Zhang $500 for each full room setup. Zhang later requested a raise, citing the increased risks involved, and Goh increased the payment to $600 per setup. Over the nine-day operation, Zhang received $2,100 for his services.
The remainder of the prostitution revenue was kept by Goh. Authorities discovered the illicit operation on March 7, 2025, during an anti-vice raid at Marina Bay Sands, which led to Goh’s immediate arrest.
Zhang Kai’s case is still pending in court. A pre-trial conference for Zhang has been scheduled for July 17, 2025.
This case highlights the calculated and organised nature of modern vice syndicates, which often exploit online platforms to recruit foreign nationals into prostitution circuits. The women involved were brought in from overseas, booked into high-end accommodations, and their services discreetly marketed to potential clients.
The charges against Goh were based on provisions in Singapore law that criminalise:
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Harbouring women for the purpose of prostitution
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Living on or benefiting from prostitution earnings
Under Singapore law, harbouring a woman for the purpose of prostitution is a serious offence punishable by up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to S$100,000. The penalty reflects the government’s firm stance against vice operations and human exploitation.
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