SINGAPORE – A woman who ran social escort websites for the purpose of providing sexual services was jailed for six months on Tuesday, August 24.

Rita Xavier, 57, who ran three websites with at least six women under her, was also fined $ 4,200.

The Singaporean woman ran a business called Belle Donna Promotion from 2012 to September 26, 2019. Her business provided sexual services through female escorts for a fee to clients.

Xavier pleaded guilty to three of the seven counts under the Women’s Charter. These relate to the recruitment of women for prostitution and the maintenance of a distance communication service in Singapore that manages the provision of sexual services. The other four related charges were considered for his conviction.

She was arrested on September 26, 2019 when agents from the specialized crime branch carried out a series of anti-vice operations and arrested her at her home.

Two of Xavier’s websites promoted social escort services with rates ranging from $ 500 to $ 1,000 per hour. She would receive 40 to 50 percent of the amount as a commission from the women providing the services.

The websites, which listed the photos of the social escorts, categorized the profiles of the escorts based on their ethnicity. Interested clients would approach Xavier by sending her an email or calling a phone line operated by her. Customers would choose an escort and then come up with a date to meet. Xavier would then contact the escort to arrange the meeting and advise the client to book a hotel room.

In January 2018, a 46-year-old woman, known as “Riya” for Xavier, stumbled upon the escort site in January 2018 and questioned her about an escort’s job. Xavier offered her a part-time job, which “Riya” accepted.

In September 2018, “Riya” accepted an assignment to provide sexual services to an unknown male client. She had sex with the client for $ 500, of which $ 200 was given to Xavier.

“Riya” accepted another assignment and met the client at the Miramar Hotel on September 26, 2019. Upon arrival at the hotel, she was arrested by police to assist with the investigations against Xavier.

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Another 24-year-old Singaporean woman, known as “Vanessa,” contacted Xavier through one of her websites to ask about the escort job. She was offered the job and estimated that she had had sex with at least 15 clients from October 2018 to September 2019.

During this period, “Vanessa” transferred approximately $ 4,000 to Xavier’s bank account as part of Xavier’s commission.

Xavier, who cooperated with the investigations, estimated that she earned an average of $ 3,500 per month from vice-related activities over the years.

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Kee cited general and specific deterrence as the primary sentencing considerations in this case. He added that the prosecution took into account Xavier’s remorse in pleading guilty and her cooperation with authorities, seeking a six-month prison term for her.

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