According to a media release, a 49-year-old man was jailed for 45 weeks and fined $10,750 after he was found guilty of using rental properties for vice activities.
The man pleaded guilty to 5 charges related to deceiving various property owners into leasing their units to him.
According to the court documents, the man rented a total of 21 properties using his name on behalf of 2 individuals who are believed to be loansharks that he owes money to. When the man approached the various properties owners, he will tell them that the properties will be used to house foreign students or workers.
Out of the 21 properties, 13 of them were used for prostitution purposes and another 1 of them was turned into a gambling den. In return, the man will get a deduction of his debt for each property he rents for the loansharks.
The man has requested the court to defer his jail statement as he wanted to take care of his father who had just gone for surgery. The request was granted and he was ordered to surrender himself in court on 30 Sep 2020.
According to the law, for each of his offences, the man could face up to 10 years of jail and fine.