Proposal for Review of Penalties for Illegal Massage and Karaoke Outlet Operations with a View to Make Jail Sentences Mandatory

5 Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) whether the Ministry will review the penalties for those who run illegal massage and karaoke outlets to make jail sentences mandatory; and (b) whether legislation will be enhanced to make it a serious crime for those who callously flout healthcare rules as they are endangering human lives by their actions.

Mr K Shanmugam: In determining penalties for offences, there is a need to consider deterrence and also that the penalties are proportionate with the nature of the offence.

Where the legislation provides for a discretionary jail term, such as under the Massage Establishments Act, the Courts may decide whether to impose a jail term, depending on the facts. We do not see a need to remove this discretion from the Courts.

Further, non-compliance with Safe Management rules is an offence under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, punishable by penalties of up to $10,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both. Repeat offenders may be punished with a fine of up to $20,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both. Since the start of the pandemic, there have been several cases where individuals who egregiously broke the rules, have been jailed.