Women’s Charter 1961 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 11 · Offences Against Women and Girls
146. Persons living on or trading in prostitution, etc.
Feedback & supportLast amended by an amending law of 2019. 2 amendments in all.
Any person who knowingly lives wholly or in part on the earnings of the prostitution of another person (being a woman or girl) shall be guilty of an offence.
earnings
“earnings”, in relation to a respondent, means any sums payable to the respondent —(a)by way of wages or salary, including any fees, bonus, commission, overtime pay or other emoluments payable in addition to wages or salary by the person paying the wages or salary or payable under a contract of service; or(b)by way of pension, including an annuity in respect of past services, whether or not the services were rendered to the person paying the annuity, and including periodical payments by way of compensation for the loss, abolition or relinquishment, or any diminution in the emoluments, of any office or employment;
A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) —
shall be punished on conviction with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years and shall also be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000; but(b)where the person is a repeat offender, shall be punished on conviction with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years and shall also be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $150,000.
Any person who knowingly solicits, receives or agrees to receive any gratification as an inducement or reward for providing any service, and who by providing that service does or will aid the prostitution of another person (being a woman or girl), shall be guilty of an offence.
prostitution
“prostitution” means the act of a female offering her body for sexual penetration for hire, whether in money or in kind;
A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1A) —
shall be punished on conviction with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years and shall also be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $100,000; but(b)where the person is a repeat offender, shall be punished on conviction with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years and shall also be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $150,000.
A person is a repeat offender in relation to an offence under subsection (1) or (1A) if the person has been convicted or found guilty (whether before, on or after 7 August 2020) on at least one other earlier occasion of an offence under subsection (1) or (1A).
[Deleted by Act 21 of 2025 wef 17/08/2026]
Where any person is proved to live with or be habitually in the company of any prostitute or is proved to have exercised control, direction or influence over the movements of any prostitute in such a manner as to show that the person is aiding, abetting or compelling her prostitution with any other person or generally, the person is, in the absence of proof to the contrary, deemed to be knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution.
In this section, “gratification” includes —
money or any gift, loan, fee, reward, commission, valuable security or other property or interest in property of any description, whether movable or immovable;
any office, employment or contract;
any payment, release, discharge or liquidation of any loan, obligation or other liability whatsoever, whether in whole or in part; and
any other service, favour or advantage of any description whatsoever.