Hotel Keeper Faces Charges for Allowing Sex Workers to Stay at Beach Road Hotel

A hotel keeper was charged in court on Monday (Dec 18) with allowing sex workers to occupy rooms at a hotel in Beach Road.

Tan Ah Teng, 52, is accused of permitting four women to use the rooms at Tropicana Copacabana Apartment Hotel for the purpose of prostitution between October and November 2023.

He faces four counts of an offence under the Women’s Charter, which prohibits any person from letting a place or receiving any person for the purpose of prostitution.

According to court documents, Tan allegedly allowed the women, who are from China, Vietnam and the Philippines, to stay at the hotel and offer sexual services to customers.

The women were arrested during a police raid on Nov 23, 2023, along with several male customers who were found in the rooms with them.

Tan, who is out on bail of S$15,000, is expected to plead guilty to his charges on Jan 15, 2024.

If convicted, he could be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed up to five years or both for each charge.

The hotel, which is owned and operated by YHT Realty Corporation, is also facing a civil lawsuit filed by an Australian businessman who claimed that he lost money and valuables from his safety deposit box at the hotel in 1987.

The businessman, Maurice McLoughlin, alleged that the hotel staff, including Tan, conspired to steal his belongings, which included US$15,000 and AUS$10,000 in cash, two bankbooks and a checkbook.

He is seeking S$1.5 million in damages from the hotel and its employees.

The hotel has denied the allegations and is contesting the lawsuit.