Phua Shewn Ying, a 43-year-old woman also known as Pan Xuanying, was sentenced to a year and 11 months in prison for orchestrating a vice syndicate that profited from the sexual services of six sex workers.
In addition to her prison term, Phua was fined $170,000, with a stipulation that she will face an extra 40 weeks behind bars if she fails to pay the fine, according to ST.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Phua Shewn Ying, 43, was sentenced to 1 year and 11 months in jail and fined $170,000 for her role in a vice syndicate involving six sex workers.
- The sex workers under Phua’s control provided services on up to 1,005 occasions, generating total earnings exceeding $264,000.
- Phua’s husband, Lim Teck Lee, 45, received a 10-month jail sentence and a $30,000 fine for his involvement, with an additional 15 weeks of jail if he fails to pay.
- Between November 2022 and January 2023, Lim transferred more than $110,000 in ill-gotten gains to a bank account as part of the operation.
- The couple was arrested in January 2023, and Phua’s bail was set at $15,000, with her jail sentence expected to begin on February 12, 2025.
SENTENCING
Phua pleaded guilty to five prostitution-related charges under the Women’s Charter on January 13. The court revealed that the women under her control provided sexual services on up to 1,005 occasions, raking in earnings exceeding $264,000.
Phua initially operated the online vice ring by herself after establishing it in 2017. Her husband, Lim Teck Lee, 45, became involved in the operation in 2022. Lim was sentenced to 10 months in prison and fined $30,000 on the same day. He faces an additional 15 weeks behind bars if he cannot pay the fine.
Evidence presented in court showed that between November 2022 and January 2023, Lim facilitated the transfer of ill-gotten gains exceeding $110,000 to a bank account. He pleaded guilty to two charges, including one count of dealing with the benefits of criminal conduct.
The court heard that Phua’s operation expanded when a Malaysian agent, known only as “Cynthia,” introduced her to women based in Malaysia. Phua shared approximately half of her earnings with Cynthia. She typically advertised the services of Singaporean women at rates ranging from $550 to $750 per hour, while the Malaysian women were priced between $550 and $600 per hour.
Phua managed bookings and arranged for escorts to meet clients. Initially, she collected her share of the earnings in person, but after collaborating with Cynthia, she instructed the escorts to transfer their earnings into bank accounts provided by Cynthia.
In a bid to evade detection, Phua enlisted Lim’s help in obtaining a separate bank account for the escorts’ transactions. Lim agreed, and the couple was arrested in January 2023.
Phua’s bail was set at $15,000, and she is scheduled to start her jail sentence on February 12, 2025.
Image via google for illustration
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