35 Filipino women rescued from sex ring
Central News Agency
2014-01-17 05:10 PM
Taipei, Jan. 17 (CNA) Prosecutors in the southern city of Tainan announced Friday that they have rescued 35 Filipino women forced into prostitution at bars in southern Taiwan.
Law enforcement officials Thursday conducted coordinated raids on a bar in Tainan and its employee dormitory and a bar in neighboring Kaohsiung.
The owner of the establishments, a man surnamed Hung, was arrested along with seven staff members.
Investigators believe that Hung lured the Filipino women in with promises of work as professional dancers in Taiwan, seizing their passports and work contracts as soon as they arrived.
The victims were then forced to provide sexual services out of the two bars, prosecutors said.
The Filipino women were allegedly required to bring in at least NT$2,000 (US$66.49) in "tips" each night and meet a monthly quota of NT$70,000-90,000.
Failing to meet the target meant their pay would be docked as a penalty, prosecutors said.
Hung allegedly paid the women a base salary of NT$15,000 per month plus 30 percent of tips.
The cost of clothing and other expenses was reportedly deducted from their pay. A bail of NT$1 million was set for Hung.
The victims are being housed at a National Immigration Agency shelter for the time being. (By Chang Jung-hsiang and Lilian Wu)
