Even as one online sex syndicate is busted, others continue to operate brazenly.
The New Paper on Sunday was alerted to a syndicate operating out of a high-end condominium in the Central Business District.
Hiding behind the glamorous trappings and the upper middle-class owners is a brothel that services both locals and foreign customers.
Tony (not his real name) claimed he had visited the apartment last month to have sex with a prostitute who was operating there.
The salesman, who is married, said he found out about the brothel via word of mouth.
"My friends and I were having drinks one night and one of them mentioned this website that features pretty Thai women who offer sexual services.
"Curious, I decided to visit the website the moment I reached home and was blown away by the bevy of beauties I saw."
Tony said he decided to book the services of one of them the next day.
"It was very easy to make a reservation. The guy who runs the operation had left his mobile phone number on the website.
"He had also left very clear instructions on how to book the girls. All I had to do was to send him a text message indicating which girl I wanted, and the time I would arrive."
Tony said a reply came back just minutes later.
"I was given instructions on how to reach the brothel. I was very surprised to find out that it was operating from an upmarket condominium."
From the text messages, Tony found out that the operator could be renting two units at the estate.
"When I reached the condominium, I was instructed via SMS to key in the unit number of one of the units at the intercom."
A knock on the door, and he was quickly allowed inside by the Thai girl that he had chosen.
"It was a small but very neat apartment. I noticed there were two bedrooms. I was led to the master bedroom which has an en-suite bathroom.
Even though Tony did not bump into anybody else inside the unit, he later heard some footsteps coming from the living room.
"The girl told me that it was her roommate who was occupying the other bedroom," he added.
The webpage run by the vice operator showcases young Thai women in provocative poses, all dressed in skimpy clothes.
It costs $160 for a 90-minute session with any one of these women but they do not accept "outcalls".
The website even has a forum where customers can post messages to one another.
TNPS conducted an online search and found out that the registrant is based in Bangkok.
This reporter posed as a potential customer and sent a text message to the operator.
On Jan 19, TNPS turned up at the condominium and staked out near the unit.
Between noon and 4pm, three men went in and out of the unit being used as a brothel.
Residents said they had not noticed anything out of the ordinary.
But the woman who alerted TNPS to the brothel said she first became suspicious when foreign-looking women in skimpy clothes were seen on the floor where the brothel is located.
"I rent a unit here for almost $8,000 a month, so it's not a cheap place to stay," she added. TNPS phoned the condominium's management committee and spoke to a man who identified himself as its manager.
When asked if he was aware of any vice activities within the apartment complex, he said: "I am not aware of such activities. We will definitely look into the matter," before hanging up.
Last December, the police cracked down on an online sex-for-hire syndicate that operated its call centre in a Bukit Panjang condominium.
Officers arrested 23 people in the eight-hour operation for they were allegedly involved in vice-related activities.
Those convicted of offences relating to prostitution can be jailed up to five years and fined up to $10,000.
