Swiss in online vice ring case to claim trial

A Swiss national charged in April over paying for sex with an underaged female prostitute will be claiming trial.

40-year-old Juerg Buergin, former executive director of operations of UBS bank, is one of the 48 men charged for having paid sex with the girl who was under 18 when the alleged offences were committed.

Nine men have either pleaded guilty or indicated they will not claim trial, Channel NewsAsia reported.

Former police superintendent Tan Wee Kia, Singapore Armed Forces technician Goh Wee Seong and former finance company director Ng Guan Mean will be pleading guilty, The Straits Times quoted their lawyer as saying.

Prominent green activist Howard Shaw pleaded guilty last week to paying for sex with the girl.