Woman who ran online vice ring lived on sex workers' $264k earnings

Jail terms and fines sought for the 43-year-old and her hubby who started helping her in 2022

- Shaffiq Alkhatib

Facing financial difficulties, a woman started operating an online vice ring in 2017 and later lived on the earnings of six sex workers totaling more than $264,000.

The mastermind of the vice syndicate, Phua Shewn Ying, 43, also known as Pan Xuanying, had engaged Singaporean and Malaysian women to work for her. The sex workers provided services on up to 1,005 occasions in total.

Phua's husband, Lim Teck Lee, 45, started helping her with the vice-related activities in 2022.

On 18 occasions between November 2022 and January 2023, Lim, who is also known as Lin Deli, transferred ill-gotten gains totaling more than $110,000 to a bank account, and helped his wife to live on the earnings of sex work.

On Jan 13, Phua pleaded guilty to five prostitution-related charges under the Women's Charter while Lim pleaded guilty to two charges including one count of dealing with the benefits of criminal conduct.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Natalie Chu told the court that Phua had initially operated alone after setting up the online vice ring in 2017.