SINGAPORE, June 20 — National para-athlete Adam Kamis has been convicted of 11 charges of procuring or attempting to procure women for prostitution and one charge under the Prevention of Human Trafficking Act (PHTA ) for exploiting a 16-year-old girl.

A district court heard that between early 2013 and October last year, the 37-year-old, who lost his right arm in a motorcycle accident in 2003 and became popularly known as “Adam Onearmrunner”, had recruited 15 women as social escorts.

He also personally “tested” their “ability to provide sexual services”.

He faces up to five years’ jail and a fine of up to S$10,000 (RM30,322.44) for each charge of procuring or attempting to procure a woman for prostitution. For the PHTA offence, he faces up to 10 years’ jail, a S$100,000 fine, and six strokes of the cane.

The court heard that in early 2013, Adam set up an escort agency “SG Freelancers” as he was in debt and needed to supplement his income.

Passing off as an escort girl working for SG Freelancers, he recruited women via email, Facebook messages and advertisements promising a “high paying freelance job” that gave them the chance to earn “up to S$1000 (per) assignment”.

When the women replied, Adam would explain that the freelance job entailed accompanying male clients, chatting with them and providing sexual services. He assured them that the job was safe and that their privacy would be protected.

Those who expressed interest would be asked to complete a questionnaire, which, among other things, asked about the sexual services they were willing to provide.

The women were also asked to send Adam photographs of themselves fully clothed and in lingerie.

The recruitment process included an “interview” in the master bedroom of Adam’s flat.

There, he would introduce himself as one of SG Freelancers’ “handler” and give the women more details about the agency and assignments, the court heard.

The women were told that as a “precautionary measure”, they had to be “verified” by the agency.

This involved stripping and performing sexual acts for Adam, the court was told. Adam even asked a few women to come back for further “verification” sessions on the pretext that they did not perform satisfactorily in the first round.

Although Adam successfully recruited 15 women, he only managed to secure five customers as several women declined assignments for various reasons, the court was told.

He has not received any commission to date. — TODAY