Man, 26, to be charged for allegedly operating massage shops without valid licenses, causing a fire in unrelated incident

A 26-year-old man will be charged in court on August 13, 2026 for allegedly running massage businesses without proper licenses, potentially causing a dangerous fire, and engaging in other criminal activities. According to police, the individual operated five massage establishments without valid licenses between June 2025 and December 2025.

Preliminary investigations showed he had been involved in two other separate incidents. In 2021, he allegedly dropped a lit cigarette from a fourth-floor ledge, causing a fire. In 2024, he allegedly transferred his bank account and i-banking credentials to a criminal syndicate for S$500. His bank account was later used in scam operations.

The man will be charged under the Massage Establishments Act 2017 for operating massage businesses without licenses, which carries a fine of up to S$10,000 or two years in jail. He will also face charges for causing or contributing to a dangerous fire, which can result in up to 18 months in jail, a fine, or both. Additionally, he will be charged for attempting to gain unauthorized access to computer materials, for which the penalty is up to two years in jail, a fine, or both.

Finally, he will be charged for facilitating the retention or control of another person's benefits from criminal conduct, with a fine of up to S$50,000, a jail term of up to three years, or both. The police will continue to conduct regular inspections of massage establishments and take action against those operating without valid licenses.

The public is advised to avoid seemingly attractive money-making opportunities that promise quick and easy profits, especially those that involve the use of personal accounts.