The Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate Prosecutors' Office yesterday ratified the arrest of three men for organizing transvestites to perform strip dance at a local nightclub.

All the four so-called ladyboys came from Thailand, where they are known as "katois."

Prosecutors allege Cheng Hua, Qin Fugen and Liu Dehuang organized the transvestites to perform strip dance at the Hua Zai Nightclub to attract more clients since February this year.

The four Thais were given 8,000 yuan (US$988) performance fee every month and 200 yuan tip for every dance show.

They worked from 8pm every night and danced for clients in VIP rooms. During the dance, they took off their clothes until they were stark naked, prosecutors said.

Different chores

The arrested trio had different chores. Cheng was the manager for the katois while Qin charged money from clients. Liu's job was to arrange every performance, prosecutors alleged.

By March 27 this year, the day they were caught by police, the Thai transvestites had already performed more than 600 dance shows.

They confessed to police that they came to China on a tourist visa from Thailand last August.

They first performed in Haikou, capital of China's southern-most Hainan Province, and later came to Shanghai by train, where they were promised better payment.

Among the four, only one can speak a little English and Chinese.

Police raided the nightclub after receiving tips from the public.

Prosecutors said that the four transvestites were not named in the case.

(Shanghai Daily May 10, 2006)