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)