Facing financial difficulties, Phua Shewn Ying, a 43-year-old Singaporean woman, established an online vice ring that profited from the work of six sex workers. Phua's operation, spanning several years, generated over $264,000 in illicit earnings. She enlisted the help of her husband, Lim, to launder the money, and partnered with a Malaysian agent to expand her network. The couple's scheme came to an end in January 2023 when they were arrested. Phua pleaded guilty to five prostitution-related charges, while Lim admitted to two charges, including one count of dealing with the proceeds of criminal conduct.
Phua Shewn Ying, a 43-year-old woman also known as Pan Xuanying, found herself facing financial hardship in 2017. Desperate for income, she embarked on a dangerous path, establishing an online vice ring that exploited six sex workers, both Singaporean and Malaysian. Over the years, Phua's operation generated a significant sum, exceeding $264,000, from the services these women provided on over 1,005 occasions.
Phua acted as the mastermind, controlling the recruitment, advertising, and financial transactions associated with her illicit enterprise.Adding another layer to the scheme, Phua enlisted the help of her husband, Lim, who assisted in laundering the ill-gotten gains. Between November 2022 and January 2023, Lim transferred over $110,000 of Phua's earnings to a bank account, effectively supporting his wife's lavish lifestyle fueled by the profits of sexual exploitation. The court heard that Phua initially managed the operation alone, but later partnered with a Malaysian agent known as 'Cynthia'. Phua shared approximately half of her earnings with Cynthia, who facilitated the recruitment and management of Malaysian sex workers.Phua's methods involved advertising the services of both Singaporean and Malaysian women through various online platforms, charging clients between $550 and $750 per hour. Once bookings were received, Phua would arrange for the available sex workers to meet with clients at agreed-upon locations. Notably, Phua became increasingly sophisticated in her operation, eventually requesting her husband to help her secure a separate bank account for the sex workers to deposit their earnings. This measure aimed to obscure the trail of the illicit funds and evade detection by authorities. The couple's scheme eventually unraveled, leading to their arrest in January 2023. Phua pleaded guilty to five charges related to prostitution, while Lim admitted to two charges, including one count of dealing with the proceeds of criminal conduct. The prosecution has recommended a sentence of up to 25 months' imprisonment and a fine of $170,000 for Phua
SEX TRAFFICKING ONLINE VICE RING SINGAPORE LAUNDERING PROSTITUTION EXPLOITATION
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