Teenager’s Pimp Jailed

ONE year in jail — that will be a guide for offences under the new law aimed at busting those who sexually exploit minors.

And a longer imprisonment term may be needed in future, said the judge who imposed the sentence on the first person to be charged with the crime.

Mr Wang Minjiang, 36, had arranged for a 17-year-old girl from China to have sex with a 55-year-old man and was found guilty in August. But, the Subordinate Court on Friday only fined him $8,000, which the prosecution appealed against, arguing that the pimp should be jailed for between 12 and 18 months. The offence of obtaining the sexual services of a person under 18 carries a maximum jail term of seven years, a fine or both, and came into effect in February.

After hearing the appeal, Justice Choo Han Teck noted in his judgment that this was the first case under the new law and “a more rigorous sentence might be needed to discourage international prostitution involving persons the law regards as young and vulnerable”.

Mr Wang’s jail term will be backdated to begin on Aug 8. The China national is currently serving a 25-week default jail term, as he did not pay his $25,000 fine from three other charges: Getting the prostitute into Singapore, living off her earnings and running his trade from a shop in Geylang.

Todayonline