Three brothers were imprisoned by Shapingba District People's
Court in southwest China's Chongqing
Municipality on Friday for running a prostitution network
employing university students.
Over 70 students were registered at the "student commercial
club" opened by Yang Fuyun, Yang Fuhai and Yang Fuhong and engaged
in prostitution in the guise of escorts and hostesses for
tourists.
In what Xinhua News Agency said was the first case of its kind
in Chongqing to involve students, the brothers were sentenced to
five, six and five years for luring women into prostitution and
living off immoral earnings.
Yang Fuyun put up the cash to set up the club, hired students
and published advertisements, while Yang Fuhai served customers and
collected fees and Yang Fuhong was responsible for the internal
affairs of the club.
Local police raided the club last December the day after
catching a student named Jiang soliciting in a hotel.
Located in Shapingba, where many universities are situated, the
club ran a series of ads in the media and on campuses from June
last year saying "University students who are smart, outgoing and
fashionable are wanted."
Some students involved said they earned over 800 yuan (US$99)
per client for providing sexual services.
Nearly half of their earnings went to the club to cover
"management costs," while the students kept the rest.
Many of the students hired by club said the three brothers often
encouraged them to be more "outgoing" and to ensure customers use
condoms.
A student named Wang, who acted as a witness in court, said, "On
my third day on the job at the club, Yang Fuhong arranged for me to
provide sexual services to a company manager. I refused."
The three brothers, however, insisted that sexual transactions
were between students and customers.
?
"What could I do if the students wanted to prostitute themselves?"
Yang Fuyun said.
Some local media reported that luring university students into
providing sexual services is not uncommon in Chongqing.
Some reports said there were nearly 100 such companies engaged
in this activity.
(China Daily September 14, 2005)