A club at St James Power Station had its public entertainment license suspended on Friday, making it the first nightspot to fall under the newly stringent public entertainment laws. Preliminary investigations by the police revealed a vice syndicate offering sexual services at the venue, and 11 people were arrested for their suspected involvement.
It is believed that the club in question is Rupee St James — Bollywood Gentlemen’s Club.
The Criminal Investigation Department and Clementi Police Division raided the nightspot last Monday and arrested nine women and two men, aged between 21 and 54. The police said that clients had booked the services of the women, who are work pass holders, via the management of the club for prices that ranged from S$500 to S$1,000.
But a man who claimed to be the club owner told Channel NewsAsia that Rupee St James’ management was unaware of the reported vice activities and uninvolved in any bookings of such services.
Identifying himself only as Mr Singh, the man said that the club did not “condone or allow such immoral activity”.
“As far as investigations are ongoing, all we know there may have been one or two staff who may have engaged in such activities outside of the club working hours and on their own accord without any instructions from the management,” he added, stating that even though the club’s licence has been suspended indefinitely during investigations, he expects it to reopen by Dec 31.
A check by The Straits Times revealed that Manmeet Singh was the director of Club 989, the company that owns Rupee St James. The 38-year-old told the paper that there was indeed a raid last week, but denied any involvement on the club management’s side. He also said that he had voluntarily accompanied the police to the station after the raid, and is currently assisting in investigations.
On Dec 8, the club put up a Facebook post to notify customers that it would be temporarily closed for upgrading works.
A couple days later, on Dec 11, another Facebook post surfaced, with the club management’s antagonistic response to the news.
Investigations are ongoing.
Under the Women’s Charter, any person who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of another person is liable to be jailed a maximum of five years and fined up to S$10,000.
Under the Public Entertainments Act, a license may be suspended or canceled if the licensee is no longer a fit and proper person to hold such a license.
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