A suspected female sex worker from the mainland was arrested a day after her arrival in Macau, Public Security Police (PSP) spokesman Cheuk Kou Chi said during a regular press conference yesterday.
According to Cheuk, the police recently received a tip-off that a 40-year-old female from the mainland, surnamed Xu, staying in a flat in Rua dos Faitiões in Patane district, was offering massage and sexual services.
Cheuk said the PSP officers went to the flat where Xu was staying to investigate on Thursday. Cheuk added that when the officers knocked on her door, she asked them whether they were there for a massage or sexual service. The officers then revealed their identities and asked her permission to search the flat, adding that they found towels, tissues, massage oil, condoms and other items that could be used to provide sexual services.
Cheuk said that Xu told the police she had only arrived in Macau the day before. He added that she confessed that she had found a WeChat group online that said they were able to bring her to Macau to work as a prostitute. She said she paid 800 yuan for staying at the flat and needed to pay 150 patacas as commission for each “client” she got, according to Cheuk.
The 800 yuan for the flat was for Xu’s entire stay but Cheuk did not elaborate on how long Xu would be staying.
According to Cheuk, Xu said that she had had six clients and earnt 2,100 patacas before paying the commission.
As the officers were taking the female to the police station for further investigation, they encountered a 49-year-old Hong Kong male, surnamed Wong, who had come to collect the commission, said Cheuk. Wong confessed that he was there to collect the commission from Xu but he claimed that he had been asked to pick up the cash from someone called “Wa Jie” (“Sister Wa”), according to Cheuk
Cheuk said that Wong was facing pimping charges. Xu faces a penalty for working while only holding a tourist visa. According to Law No. 6/97/M Article 8, “Anyone who entices or attracts another person, even with their agreement, with a view to prostitution, or who exploits the prostitution of others, even with their consent, is punished with a prison sentence of 1 to 3 years.” Moreover, the article states: “Whoever, with remuneration or without it, recruits clients for people who work as prostitutes or, in any way, favours or facilitates the practice of prostitution, is punished with a prison sentence of up to 3 years.”
This undated handout photo provided by the Public Security Police (PSP) yesterday shows the two suspects being escorted by two PSP officers to a police station in Nam Van.
