A massage shop owner was yesterday sentenced to two years in prison after a Phnom Penh Municipal Court judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence to show her staff had accepted money to have sex with customers.

Mach Ny, also known as Long Srey, 37, was arrested on February 10 this year on prostitution charges after a raid on her shop in the capital’s Por Sen Chey district.

“The court convicts her to two years in prison,” said the judge, Kim Rath Narin. “The accused has the right to appeal this decision in the next 30 days.”

Um Sopheak, a deputy prosecutor, said officers who raided Ny’s shop had discovered three of her staff engaged in sexual intercourse with customers.

Seven young women – all working as massage staff – were detained after the raid and later released after being “educated” by police, he added.

Ny – a widow and mother – and her defence lawyer could not be reached for comment yesterday.