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Hostess club manager, gang members arrested in prostitution of Thai females in Gunma

Hostess club manager, gang members arrested in prostitution of Thai females in Gunma
Officers arrested 3 suspects
TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Monday announced the arrest of the manager of a hostess club and two members of the Matsuba-kai organized crime group for the alleged prostitution of Thai females in the Ikaho hot springs area of Gunma Prefecture, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Jan. 23).

Kenichi Ando, 31, manager of bar Snack Yume, located in Shibukawa City, and gang members Jiro Sato, 43, and Toshio Onosato, 33, were taken into custody by officers from the peace preservation division for violating the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act regarding the employment of a Thai female.

Ando is alleged to have utilized a broker in Thailand to recruit two women to come to Japan by promising a high income. The suspect imposed a debt for living and transportation costs of 5.5 million yen.

Between June and November of last year, Ando employed the women, aged 32 and 35, as prostitutes inside a second-floor room to repay the debt. To ensure they would not flee, their passports had been seized, police said.

Ando has reportedly denied the allegations.

According to police, gang member Sato routinely made visits to the club to collect protection money. Police are investigating whether the money flowed back to the gang’s coffers.

Fuji News Network reports that the number of arrests in the case totaled six.

タイ人女性に売春強要の疑い、6人逮捕