A foreign domestic worker in Singapore has been found to have secretly engaged in prostitution over several years, earning more than S$100,000 while holding a valid work permit. The case, which surfaced following official inspections, also led to the jailing of a man who transitioned from being her client to acting as her pimp.
Court proceedings revealed that the woman, a Filipino national in her mid-40s, had been working as a domestic helper in Singapore for more than a decade. Despite the strict conditions tied to work permits, she began offering sexual services around 2021, quietly building up a steady stream of clients without the knowledge of her employers.
Over a four-year period, investigators estimated that she served more than a thousand clients, charging fees ranging from S$80 to S$150 per encounter. Payments were typically made directly to her in cash or via electronic transfers, allowing the activity to continue largely undetected for years.
CLIENT TURNED PIMP AND PROFITED FROM ARRANGEMENT
The case took a more serious turn when one of the woman’s clients agreed to assist her by advertising her services online and coordinating bookings. This man, a Singaporean in his late 30s, eventually assumed the role of her pimp after the original middleman returned to his home country.
Under this arrangement, the offender handled communications with customers, arranged meeting locations and schedules, and received a commission for each transaction. Between early 2021 and early 2024, he collected at least S$6,300 from the woman for his involvement.
At one point, the arrangement shifted away from cash payments, with the offender instead receiving sexual services in exchange for his role. Court documents showed that the pair met regularly under this informal understanding, further complicating the nature of the offences.
DETAILS UNCOVERED DURING INVESTIGATIONS
Police became aware of the illegal activities after receiving a report alleging that a domestic helper was involved in prostitution and that a third party was profiting from it. Investigations confirmed that the woman had been serving an estimated 20 to 30 clients each month.
Some of the encounters reportedly took place at clients’ residences, hotel rooms, or at the offender’s own home. In addition, the woman introduced two acquaintances who were also involved in prostitution to the offender, who then assisted them in sourcing customers as well.
Between 2021 and late 2024, the woman earned at least S$108,000 from providing sexual services. The scale of the earnings highlighted how such illegal activities can intersect with broader issues of unlicensed work, immigration breaches and organised vice operations.
SENTENCING AND LEGAL CONSEQUENCES IN SINGAPORE
The man faced multiple charges under the Women’s Charter for his role in managing and profiting from prostitution. He pleaded guilty to two charges, with the remaining offences taken into consideration during sentencing. The court imposed a six-month jail term and ordered him to pay a fine equivalent to the profits he made.
A gag order was also imposed to protect identities involved in the case. The domestic worker was arrested following a Ministry of Manpower inspection and is expected to face immigration and employment-related consequences.
The case underscores Singapore’s strict stance on illegal vice activities, particularly those involving vulnerable workers and abuse of work permits. Authorities continue to stress that engaging in unauthorised employment, online solicitation, and third-party profiteering from prostitution carries severe penalties, including imprisonment and deportation.