Chinese sex worker in Singapore among 5 sentenced over COVID-19-related offenses
(Clockwise from top left) Cheng Fengzhao, Arvinish N. Ramakrishnan, Chng Tianxi, George Heng Seng Huat and Zahari Samat were sentenced in court over offences linked to the coronavirus outbreak. The Straits Times/Asia News Network/KELVIN CHNG, WONG KWAI CHOW, LIM YAOHUI
SINGAPORE — A sex worker breached safe distancing measures and allowed a regular customer to enter her home during the circuit breaker period.
Chinese national Cheng Fengzhao, 38, is a work permit holder and was supposed to be employed as a waitress at an eatery whose name was not revealed in court documents, but she failed to turn up for work.
She was fined $7,000 after pleading guilty to an offense under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act on Wednesday (June 3).
Instead of working as a waitress, Cheng paid a monthly fee to some unknown individuals to help her advertise sexual services on different websites.
She also lived at a condominium apartment in Jalan Kemaman near Balestier Road and paid rent to an unknown man every 10 days. She was charged $100 a day, the court heard.
When the police conducted a raid there at around 3pm on May 5, officers spotted Cheng’s regular customer, a 51-year-old man, entering her unit.
The man, whose name was not revealed in court documents, was stepping out about an hour later when the police identified themselves.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Lee Ti-Ting said that officers searched the unit and found another sex worker there.
The DPP also told Senior District Judge Bala Reddy that prior to the customer’s visit, Cheng had arranged for the man to visit her that day, charging him $100 for her services.
Cheng, who was unrepresented, pleaded for a light sentence and told the court that she did not have any qualifications to earn a living.
When asked why she did not work as a waitress here, she replied that no such job was available when she arrived in Singapore. It was not stated if the customer would be taken to court.
Cheng was one of five people sentenced in court on Wednesday over offenses linked to the coronavirus outbreak.
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