Hair Salons, Entertainment Outlets Raided in Clampdown on Touting, Vice

Businesses in Geylang, Joo Chiat Targeted by Police in Enforcement Ops; 20 Arrested

- David Sun

Hair salons and public entertainment outlets in Geylang and Joo Chiat were targeted in recent enforcement operations that saw 20 people arrested and six others being investigated.

The police raided three salons in Geylang on June 27. At one outlet, plainclothes officers caught women offering unlicensed massage services.

There were four men receiving such services in this salon during the raid—the first operation at such outlets that the media has been allowed to observe.

The men sat on massage beds at the back of the shop while the police questioned the women. Although they were allowed to leave, the men stayed behind, hoping to get a refund.

Based on identity checks, several of the women appeared to be Singapore permanent residents.

Shops like this one often present a typical salon set-up at the front, while the back contains massage stations with beds separated by thin dividers.

The shop where the media observed the police raid had four massage beds, six hair washing beds, and two foot massage recliners.