[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jucheol In] A manager who employed illegal immigrants and brokered prostitution in an officetel was arrested by the police.
The Bucheon Wonmi Police Station in Gyeonggi announced on the 12th that they have arrested and are investigating four people, including manager A (in their 20s), on charges of violating the Act on the Punishment of Acts of Prostitution. They are accused of engaging in prostitution at an officetel in Jung-dong, Bucheon City, around 10 p.m. on the 30th of last month.
Police who responded to a report arrested three people at the officetel, including B (in her 30s, Thai nationality), an illegal immigrant woman, and C (in his 30s), a male client. They also arrested two managers, including A, who were nearby. The police confiscated seven mobile phones held by the managers including A.
To avoid police crackdowns, they verified customers' identification cards, occupations, and business cards, then checked records through an app that tracks visits to prostitution establishments before allowing entry. Payments were received into the accounts of the prostitution women, and the officetels or one-room apartments used for prostitution were rented under employees' names. Additionally, only illegal immigrants were employed as prostitution women and were frequently subjected to assault.
The police believe they operated corporate-style prostitution in Bucheon, Gyeonggi; Bupyeong, Incheon; and Gangnam, Seoul, and are tracking the ringleader D (in his 30s). D is known to have employed about 40 women and operated 12 establishments in the metropolitan area and elsewhere.
A police official stated, "The Thai woman was sent to the immigration office due to illegal stay," and added, "We are analyzing the confiscated mobile phones to track users and others involved."
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