Women charged with prostitution to appear in court on Wednesday

The five women charged in connection with what is said to be a prostitution ring operating at a residential lot along North Avenue in St. Andrew will appear in court on Wednesday, March 26. 

 

The women, who were among an initial group of six, were arrested and charged during a police raid on March 11 for breaches under the Public Health Act.

 

The owner was also implicated.

 

The women are set to appear in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

 

The police are still working to bring charges against the woman who allegedly led the prostitution ring. 

 

A police source indicated that during an assessment of her mobile phone, a list of clients were identified via WhatsApp conversations, pointing to several people who were participating in the operations at the premises.

 

The police say, while the evidence indicates that the woman was living off the earnings of prostitution, additional proof is needed to bring further charges against her, with one of the investigating officers noting that the standard of proof in the criminal court requires proving offences beyond reasonable doubt. 

 

Following the March 11 raid, the police confirmed that the illegal activities were being carried out under the guise of a massage parlor.  

 

The women were found to be 19 to 31 years old.

 

The charges came as the women, who were supposed to be performing beauty therapy services, including massages, were found to be unlicensed. 

 

It is required under the Public Health Act, that those performing such duties must be in possession of a valid beauty therapist licence.