Mainlanders jailed over karaoke prostitution operation

A mamasan and seven prostitutes from the mainland were jailed yesterday after being found guilty of providing sexual services to customers at the CEO Neway Karaoke parlour in Wan Chai.

The Eastern Court heard yesterday that all eight defendants were two-way permit holders and mostly professionals or university students - including a founder and legal representative of a construction materials company.

Zhan Xiaoyan, 31, was charged with seven counts of living off the earnings of the prostitution of others and one count of breaching her condition of stay. She pleaded guilty to all but the last charge.

The other seven women, Li Xiaofang, 22, Zhang Na, 24, Chen Xiuli, 22, Liu Jia, 30, Zhang Xiaochun, 27, Wang Dan, 25, and Li Min, 27, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaching their condition of stay.

The eight defendants, who arrived in Hong Kong late last month, were entitled to stay for up to 14 days but not to work.

Magistrate David Thomas sentenced Zhan to eight months' jail and the others to two months' imprisonment. The money they earned from prostitution would also be confiscated. He said the jail terms were reduced to take account of their pleas.