A pub in Boat Quay reportedly used a blue light to alert their staff and performers of police presence nearby, with a person stationed outside switching on a flickering blue light when police officers are in the vicinity.
The hostesses in the pub were allegedly providing explicit services to customers to get them to spend more money on drinks.
The pub owner has since been sentenced to jail for the “hack”.
50-year-old Malaysian, Lee Seet Khiang, pleaded guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice and was sentenced to 6 weeks imprisonment on 22 August.
One other charge was taken into consideration for his sentencing.
Two employees helped to switch on the blue light to alert the staff members between 2019 and 2020, after receiving instructions from Lee.
One staff member even used the light 4 to 5 times a week.
One of the staff members received a stern warning, while the other got a 12-month conditional warning.
Background
Lee instructed his staff members to switch on the blue light to alert their performers, who were allegedly providing explicit services, to the presence of police nearby.
The blue light, when switched on, would be a signal for the women to stop all their activities and move away from their customers.
The plan worked to a tee since Lee took charge of Club Para Para in 2019.
In 2020, a former performer at the T.G.I.F pub nearby complained to the Ministry of Manpower about Club Para Para allegedly conducting illicit activities.
They claimed that the women there were allegedly offering explicit services to customers to get them to spend more money on drinks.
MOM then investigated the establishment and found links between Club Para Para, T.G.I.F and another establishment called Beer Inn, where lee had been an employee since 2012.
MOM found out that the performers would offer their services across the three pubs to earn commissions from the drinks.
Lee was also allegedly aware of the breach of the pub’s entertainment license conditions.