Singapore charges 48 with paying for sex with girl

19 April 2012 - 09:47 By Sapa-AP
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now

A Swiss banker and a school principal are among 48 men charged in Singapore with paying for sex with a minor.

A red light district.
A red light district.
Image: tele_/flickr.com
A red light district.
A red light district.
Image: tele_/flickr.com

Court documents released late on Wednesday show 40-year-old Swiss national Juerg Buergin was charged with paying for sex with a girl local media say was 17. Buergin was Swiss bank UBS's executive director of operations in Singapore before resigning in January.

Prosecutors said Buergin has not entered a plea and is being held pending bail of 15 000 Singapore dollars ($12 000).

The other defendants are charged with paying for sex with the same girl in 2010 and 2011. They include a former primary school principal, a former police superintendent and the grandson of a prominent businessman.

Prostitution is legal in Singapore for those at least 18.

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now