Police in Preah Sihanouk province have smashed a syndicate suspected to be involved in operating a prostitution ring in the area, with the arrest of seven men on Monday.
Preah Sihanouk provincial police chief Chuon Narin said yesterday that after a tip-off from an informant on Monday night, police swooped down on a massage parlour in Village I, commune III, in Preah Sihanouk town, that was used as a cover to offer sexual services.
In the raid, carried out with the help of the Preah Sihanouk provincial prosecutor, a total of 29 people were arrested. They were sent to Preah Sihanouk provincial court on Tuesday afternoon for further action, Narin said.
He said 22 people were released after interrogations, including 14 sex workers and eight customers who were present at the parlour.
“The owner of the massage parlour and six others were charged for prostitution and sent to Preah Sihanouk provincial court for further action,” Narin said.
The arrest comes a day after six foreigners were held by police in the area for distributing leaflets to promote a massage parlour.
Narin named the seven foreigners arrested in the latest action as Chen Zhimin, 41, the owner of the massage parlour, cashier Wu Xiang Yun, 48; manager Xu Fei, 29; driver Zhuang Fei Yun, 37, and purchaser Chen Gang, 35.
He said Zhang Bing, 27, and Youdan, 36, were involved in distributing leaflets to promote the parlour.
Police said the men were operating from a rented house, and during the raid, they seized condoms, sex toys and 13 mobile phones.
“At the moment, seven suspects have been sent to the provincial court and we are interrogating them according to our procedure,” said deputy prosecutor Kieng Sotakro, who is handling the case.
