"They solicited sex trafficking in different countries using a similar method."Seoul (ANTARA News/Yonhap) - Two South Korean women have been arrested on charges of running overseas prostitution rings in Hong Kong and the United States, police here said Monday.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA) said it has arrested two South Korean female brokers, surnamed Cheong and Hong, on suspicion of leading the rings in Hong Kong and Los Angeles, adding that it is pursuing another ringleader based in New York.
"They solicited sex trafficking in different countries using a similar method. They, however, are not a united organization," an SMPA officer close to the investigation said.
The SMPA said it has also booked 23 sex workers, including a suspect surnamed Kim, without physical detention on charges of providing sex services.
The three brokers are suspected of obtaining some 940 million won (US$824,561) in total by arranging sex between South Korean women and Korean or foreign men living in those cities from late 2009 to May 2012, police said, adding that the women were hired using job-seeking Web sites.
Hong, who runs a ring based in Los Angeles, allegedly produced fraudulent documents to help sex workers obtain U.S. tourist visas that allow a stay of more than 90 days, the SMPA said.
Customers paid between 250 and 300 dollars for services, the officer said, adding that Hong allegedly took around 100 dollars from each service as a fee.
Police investigation showed that Hong is a university student in Los Angeles and Cheong is a housewife living in Hong Kong, the officer added.
The SMPA said it is currently searching for the New-York based broker and the investigation will be launched to seek out other suspects who assisted Hong to produce fake documents for the U.S. visa applications.
(U.A045)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
