10 charged over illegal Brisbane
11 September 2009
ABC - Andree Withey
Ten people will face court over the operation of illegal brothels in Brisbane after police raided four properties at Kangaroo Point, Springwood and Fortitude Valley
Four women and six men have been charged on more than 20 offences including prostitution, proceeds of crime and money laundering offences.
The police investigation targeted organised illegal prostitution, operating under the guise of a sole independent operator and escort agencies.
They claim two well organised prostitution networks have been dismantled.
Two women appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday, while the eight others will appear in coming weeks.
Police also seized more than $3,000 in cash as well as documents and mobile phones.
Sex Workers Call for a Red Ban on the Red Shield Appeal
“The message in the advertisement falsely gives the impression that by donating you will be assisting the rescue of sex workers when this is a sensationalist use of one experience.” said Kelly a member of Scarlet Alliance. “The majority of sex workers do not need rescuing and the Salvation Army has not assisted sex workers when we have needed support instead they are using us to get donations.”
“Scarlet Alliance is calling for an immediate stop on the use of these advertisements and a public apology to sex workers by the Salvation Army.” said Elena Jeffreys. “Scarlet Alliance is willing to work in partnership with the Salvation Army to ensure this does not happen again.” said Elena Jeffreys
Thai sex workers were slaves: court
Kam Tin Ho, his brother Ho Kam Ho, Chee Fui Hoo and Slamet Edy Rahardjo are accused of being involved in the well planned and sophisticated scheme, the Victorian Supreme Court has heard.
Opening the trial, crown prosecutor Daniel Gurvich told the jury the scheme involved bringing the women to Australia and profiting from their willingness to work for minimum reward in the local sex industry.
The five women came to Australia in 2003 and 2004 knowing they would work in the sex industry. Many had previously worked as prostitutes, he said.
Mr Gurvich said one of the women never actually worked in Australia but conditions endured by the other four while working as sex workers in Melbourne amounted to slavery.
"They had to pay a price to secure their journey to Australia and the opportunity to earn money to assist their families back in Thailand," he said.
"That price was a contract, a contract to incur a debt that meant that before they could earn money of their own to keep, they would be required to service a specified number of clients."
Mr Gurvich said that under "highly exploitative" contracts, some of the women had to service between 650 and 750 clients to pay a debt of $80,000 to $90,000 each, which would typically take three or four months to pay.
While under contract, the women got to keep $5 from the $125 clients paid for sex.
Another $50 would go towards their debt.
They worked six days and if they worked a seventh, they could keep $50 from each job.
Once they paid their debt they could keep $50 a job.
The women sent the money they earned back to their families in Thailand.
Mr Gurvich said the women mainly worked at two South Melbourne brothels and lived in houses in Melbourne's CBD and suburban Mt Waverley and Ashburton.
While under contract, they were generally not allowed to go out without company, their passports were withheld, they were transported between brothels and home and did not have a key to their house.
Even after they had paid their debt, the women were still under strict control, he said.
The court heard the accused were concerned with preventing Australian immigration authorities from deporting the women, because this would reduce the scheme's profits.
It heard the women were brought into Australia on business or tourist visas based on false stories and tried to extend their stay by falsely claiming they were fleeing persecution.
The accused have pleaded not guilty to the various charges.
Kam Tin Ho faces 14 counts including five of intentionally possessing a slave and one of entering into commercial transaction involving a slave.
Ho Kam Ho faces 11 counts including four counts of intentionally possessing a slave and one of entering into commercial transaction involving a slave.
Chee Fui Hoo faces two counts of intentionally possessing a slave and one of intentionally exercising over a slave a power attaching to the right of ownership.
Slamet Edy Rahardjo faces one count of enter into commercial transaction involving a slave.
The trial continues on Thursday