Geylang Vice Worker Jailed 19 Weeks After Five Arrests
A 39-year-old Chinese national, Du Chaomei (transliteration), was sentenced to 19 weeks’ jail on Wednesday (Nov 12) following a string of vice-related arrests across multiple locations in Singapore. Du, who faced seven charges under the Women’s Charter and the Employment of Foreign Manpower Act, pleaded guilty to three charges, with the remaining counts considered during sentencing.
Du acted as a receptionist and coordinator for a prostitution ring, managing payments, taking orders, and directing customers to sex workers. According to Shin Min Daily News, she used WhatsApp and other communication tools to organise sexual services, quote prices, and coordinate logistics for clients.
First Arrest at Geylang Road
Her first charge stemmed from July 4, 2024, at around 1.10 pm at 251A Geylang Road. There, Du arranged sexual services using a remote communication service with a Singapore link, facilitating transactions and brokering arrangements for paid services. She communicated with multiple individuals via WhatsApp—negotiating prices, confirming bookings, and relaying instructions.
She was arrested and charged, then released on bail the next day. However, the bail did little to deter her involvement in vice work.
Second Arrest at Balestier Road
Despite being under investigation, Du resumed similar duties—this time as a front-counter staff member at a different vice establishment at 617 Balestier Road. On Sept 6, 2024, she was arrested in another police raid and charged for the second time. She was released on bail two days later.
Third Raid on Same Premises
Just weeks later, on Nov 22, 2024, police raided the same Balestier Road premises again at about 8.25 pm. Du was found inside with five men and eight women. She was arrested and charged a third time but once again granted bail the following day.
Fourth Arrest at MacPherson Road
On Aug 7, 2025, at about 3.40 pm, Du was arrested yet again—this time at 443 MacPherson Road. Seven other women and five men were found inside during the raid. Authorities charged her for the fourth time as investigations continued into her involvement in managing operations across multiple vice locations.
Fifth Arrest and Escalating Role
Du’s final arrest occurred on Aug 25, 2025. She was reportedly managing 10 mobile phones at the time—an indication, prosecutors argued, of her increasing responsibility within the prostitution ring. The devices were used to handle client bookings, relay instructions, and manage the flow of workers between different locations.
Legal Consequences and Sentencing
Under Singapore law, anyone who keeps, manages, or assists in managing a brothel is guilty of an offence. First-time offenders may face fines of up to $100,000, up to five years’ jail, or both. Repeat offenders face significantly harsher penalties—fines up to $150,000, jail terms up to seven years, or both.
During sentencing, prosecutors argued that Du was a “key figure” in the vice ring, citing her repeated arrests, her continued defiance of bail terms, and the large number of devices she managed. They recommended a jail term between 19 and 22 weeks. The court ultimately handed down a 19-week sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of her repeated offences.
Du’s conviction marks the culmination of over a year of enforcement action across three districts—Geylang, Balestier, and MacPherson—highlighting what authorities describe as a persistent and structured vice network operating behind seemingly ordinary storefronts.
