Two more jailed in online vice ring case

SINGAPORE: Two more men have been jailed for having sex with an underage prostitute.

Lee Vin Sen has been sentenced to ten weeks jail.

The 36—year—old pleaded guilty to paying the girl S$450 for sex at Marina Bay Sands Hotel on 23 September 2010.

He is the 13th man to be sentenced for having paid sex with an underage girl in a high—profile online vice ring case.

District Judge Chay Yuen Fatt called Lee an "accidental client".

Lee’s lawyer, Ms Lim Kim Hong, said her client did not "actively go online looking for sexual services," nor was he involved in the booking of the girl and the hotel.

She highlighted that it was Lee’s friend instead, who had contacted the girl’s pimp and arranged a tryst with her.

Lee came into the picture after his friend lost money at a casino and was unable to pay for the girl’s services.

The father—of—two agreed and proceeded to have sex with the girl, who was 17 years old at that time.

Ms Lim added that Lee had acted in a moment of folly and was "very remorseful".

The court also heard that Lee has been "mentally unstable" since he was charged and has been "receiving treatment for the past six months."

Noting that Lee was not actively involved in the booking of the girl, the judge said that Lee’s culpability was "a shade lesser."

A second man was also sentenced for a similar offence.

37—year—old businessman Lee Ching Hsuin, was jailed 12 weeks for paying the same girl S$500 for sex at a hotel at Lavender Street on 6 November 2010.

Under Singapore law, it is an offence to have paid sex with a girl below 18 years of age.

— CNA/xq