Stikfas founder jailed for having paid sex with underage girl

SINGAPORE: Homegrown toymaker Ban Yinh Jheow on Thursday became the sixth man jailed for having paid sex with an underage girl in the high profile online vice ring case.

He was jailed 13 weeks for having paid sex with the same girl on three occasions. The Prosecution proceeded on one charge and took the other two into consideration.

Ban, 42, is an entrepreneur who founded Stikfas, a company that sold millions of award—winning plastic action figures.

The court heard that Ban, who is married, found out about the girl’s services online. He then contacted her pimp Tang Boon Thiew.

On all three occasions, Ban met the girl for sex at Hotel 81 Bencoolen — twice in September 2010 and once in October 2010. Each time, he paid her S$450.

The court also heard that Ban did not ask to see her identification. The girl was 17 at the time.

Under Singapore’s law, it is illegal to have paid sex with a girl below 18 years of age.

In mitigation, Ban’s lawyer Chia Boon Teck said Ban deeply regretted his actions.

In sentencing, district judge Chay Yuen Fatt said that Ban’s offence warranted a higher sentence than some of those previously jailed as he had two charges taken into consideration.

So far, 51 men have been implicated in the online vice ring case.

Five have been sentenced so far. Four of them received 12—week jail terms.

— CNA/cc