Vietnam arrests South Korean man for allegedly running large prostitution ring
Vietnamese police have arrested a South Korean man for allegedly running a large prostitution ring catering to South Koreans in Hanoi, state-controlled media reported Tuesday. He was arrested early Monday at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport before boarding a flight to Seoul, the Capital Police newspaper said. No charges have yet been filed, pending an investigation. Police earlier arrested four Vietnamese for allegedly working in the prostitution ring, it said.
State media have reported that police raided a karaoke parlor and two hotels on Saturday, and briefly detained nine South Koreans caught having sex with prostitutes. Nearly 47 women who worked as waitresses at the karaoke bar were also taken into custody and sent to a locked rehabilitation facility. The South Korean clients were released after paying fines, state media said. Police were unavailable for comment Tuesday. The karaoke bar only served South Korean customers, who could arrange to have sex with prostitutes at other Hanoi hotels for US$70 (€56) to US$95 (€76) per visit, the newspaper said.
The newspaper quoted the alleged ringleader as telling police that he came to Vietnam in 2001, and had opened the karaoke parlor with four other South Koreans.
He maintained that he was only the bar's marketing director, and that the prostitution operations were run by a Vietnamese person.
Last week, Prime Minister Phan Van Khai ordered that no new licenses would be granted to bars, karaoke parlors or discos as part of a crackdown on prostitution and drug abuse. Khai also ordered the Ministry of Public Security to launch crackdowns against violations at existing establishments. Vietnam has thousands of bars, karaoke parlors and discos, many of which are fronts for prostitution and drug abuse.
The Associated Press - May 31, 2005.
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