THE owner of a massage outlet was tried yesterday, along with two co-workers, for the illegal operation of a brothel allegedly offering sexual services for old women and gay men in Phnom Penh.

Gov Vouch Leang, 29, owner of Rambo Massage, Khuon Rambo, 24, the club’s manager, and Sek Thearum, 23, the club’s accountant, have all been charged with providing  prostitution services.  

All three were arrested by the Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Police on February 26 at the massage parlour located in the Veal Vong commune of Phnom Penh’s Prampi Makara district.   

Rambo Massage was allegedly the only brothel in Phnom Penh to provide sex for gay men and elderly females, said Hoeng Bunchea, deputy prosecutor at Phnom Penh Municipal Court.     

“Providing a place for prostitution is against the law in Cambodia,” he said. Condoms, sex toys and pornographic DVD’s were also seized from inside the massage parlour during a raid, the court heard.

All three suspects have denied the charges levelled against them. “My shop provided only health massages for customers, never any sexual services.  I would like to ask the court to drop all charges and release me,” said Gov Vouch Leang.  A verdict is due to be passed down on July 25.