Man pleads guilty to sex with underage prostitute

SINGAPORE: A sub—contractor on Tuesday pleaded guilty in court to having sex with an underage prostitute.

54—year—old Wee Lian Kee admitted to paying the Vietnamese girl, who was then 16 years old, S$180 for sexual services.

He is one of the six men who were previously charged with paying for sex with Vietnamese girls, aged between 16 and 17, in July 2011.

Under the law, it is illegal to pay for sex with anyone under the age of 18.

Wee, a father of three, met the girl and two other Vietnamese girls in Geylang last July.

The court heard that the girl worked as a hostess in a KTV lounge.

Wee was told that the girl was of age, and he did not verify further.

He later booked a hotel room in the vicinity and paid the girl for sex.

In mitigation, Wee’s lawyer, Mr James Lee, said that his client was "careless" in trusting the girl’s claim of her age.

Mr Lee added that Wee only found out about her age after he met her again and she showed him her passport.

Wee was said to be "shocked and frightened" and did not have sex with the girl after that.

Wee will be sentenced on 3 August.

If convicted, he could be jailed up to seven years and fined.

— CNA/wm