SINGAPORE – A 26-year-old tenant from China received a punishment of three months imprisonment and $12,000 fine for subletting his new condominium in Singapore to sex workers.

Dong Bin, the tenant who permitted the use of his rented space as a brothel and lived off the earnings of three prostitutes who used the property has been tagged guilty. The court considered two similar charges in passing out the sentence.

Dong Bin’s vice-related business helped him earn a total of $6,300.

The foreigner rented the Woodsvale condominium unit in Woodsvale Drive 72 last April with the knowledge that it would be used as a brothel, the court heard.

A fellow from China name Zhang Ge, had asked Dong to find a house for rent to use for vice activities. The case also stated that Zhang deducted $2,000 from the money owed to him by his compatriot. He also promised a $40 kickback per day to Dong for collecting the rent of the prostitutes.

Paying an amount of $2,400, Dong signed an agreement to rent the Woodsvale condo under his name and a friend. The contract involved the property agent and the owner. After the deal, Dong handed the keys to Zhang who gave him $4,800 in return. The receiver of the key rented the unit to the sex workers with ages 37, 23 and 21.

Being skeptical about what might have been happening due to the number of people going in and out of the unit, the condo estate manager notified the police on May 26. The police officers of Jurong Division have reportedly knocked at the condominium’s door but the people inside refused to open up. This pushed the police to force their way into the unit.

Three prostitutes, who admitted using the unit for sexual services have been arrested on the suspicion of breaching immigration laws. The police invited Dong for interrogations but were immediately released. However, Dong rented another unit in Block 665, Yishun Avenue 4 and repeated their operations just four days after the incident.

The police conducted an anti-vice raid in the area leading to the arrest of Dong Bin and two sex workers. They also found that foreigners have breached immigration laws by overstaying in Singapore.

Zhang Ge, the said man involved in the vice operations, remains at large.

Read More: Singapore property blog