Straits Times
These women are not offenders, but if they solicit for sex in public, they will be prosecuted, says Ho Peng Kee
Women brought here and forced to be prostitutes will not be prosecuted. Neither will foreign women who come here to earn money as prostitutes.
The reason they are not treated as offenders is that prostitution is not an offence here. However, if they solicit for sex in public, they will be prosecuted.
Senior Minister of State Ho Peng Kee, in assuring Nominated MP Braema Mathi that these women are neither treated as offenders nor victims, gave updated figures to show that trafficking of sex workers is not a significant problem here.
Associate Professor Ho, whose portfolio covers Law and Home Affairs, said that of the eight cases of forced prostitution reported in the first seven months of this year, only two were substantiated. In the last two years, none of the 18 reported cases was substantiated.
Such cases of forced prostitution here are 'very rare', he added, reiterating the Government's position made earlier this week in response to a report by the State Department of the United States.
On Monday, Singapore had challenged the report which said there is a significant human trafficking problem here, with more than 100 foreign girls and women sent here each year for sexual exploitation.
Yesterday, Prof Ho said women forced or tricked to come here as sex workers will be witnesses in court against the agent who trafficked them. They are also offered temporary shelter and counselling.
Their agents will face the full wrath of the law, like the Thai and Sri Lankan who trafficked in the two women this year.
Prof Ho also did not see a need to stiffen the penalties as the current laws against the trafficking of women are tough enough. Offenders can be jailed for up to 10 years and fined.
However, if the girl was below 14-years-old, the client can be convicted of rape and the agent who trafficked her can be jailed for up to 20 years and not less than eight years. He will also be given at least 12 strokes of the cane.
Prof Ho also made a distinction to define what is a trafficked sex worker.
She is not one if she 'comes in voluntarily - as many of them do on social visit passes'.
For those who are tricked into coming in or have come voluntarily and are threatened or assaulted into continuing being a sex worker, then the definition of being forced into prostitution applies.
