Married couple faces prostitution charges

Tboung Khmum Provincial Court yesterday charged and jailed a man and his wife, joint owners of a massage parlour, for offering sex services inside their shop in Ponhea Krek district.

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Investigating Judge Chhith Vinear identified the two accused as Som Bunrann, 48, and his wife, Sam Pichr, 44, who own a massage parlour in Trapaing Phlong commune’s Trapaing Thloeng II village in Ponhea Krek district.

Judge Vinear said they were charged with operating a place of prostitution and if convicted, they could face between two and five years each in prison along with a fine of between $1,000 and $2,500.

He added that they were arrested on Wednesday and are currently in pre-trial detention.

Major Sok Vichetr, deputy chief of Ponhea Krek district police, said that the pair were arrested at about 6.30pm after police raided their massage parlour.

Maj Vichetr noted that police had discovered the outlet provided sex services after a police officer, who posed as a motorbike taxi driver, entered and asked to have sex with a masseuse on Monday.

He noted that after collecting evidence and information from masseuses at the shop, district police reported their findings to the provincial court prosecutor to obtain authorisation to inspect the shop on Wednesday.

“According to police investigation, the two accused allowed masseuses under their employment to have sex with clients for $20 to $30 a session,” Maj Vichetr said. “The accused cut $5 to $10 per client from the masseuse as commission.”

“They were arrested after police raided their shop,” he added.

Maj Vichetr said after the raid, police identified seven sex workers and sent them to a provincial rehabilitation centre in Tboung Khmum district to be educated.

Police also seized evidence from the shop, including a guestbook containing a list of clients, as well as used and unused condoms.