Sorry Guys I tried to split the thread to one and lost the other 6 posts.. OPPS. Here is the nuts and bolts of it...
Police Raid Result Two Arrests for "Proxenetismo"
In a police raid Wednesday night, that included 45 police officers and proscutorers from the Ministerio de Seguridad Publica and the Unidad de Lucha contra la Explotación Sexual Comercial, resulted in the arrest of the owner of the business and a female employee.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Fantasy, located in Barrio Amon, was raided on Wednesday night, along with another alleged related business, and owners and managers charges with Proxenetismo.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The two businesses operated in the centre of San José and operating as massage parlours, are alleged to be houses of prostitution, where women were available to customers for sexual relations.
The investigation of the two businesses and others in the area has been going on for six months and more raids and arrests are coming, according to police sources.
During the raid, police found about 15 women in the two centres, who worked as prostitutes. Authorities believe that as many as 35 women worked on those places, at different hours, charging up to 14.000 colones for an hour of massage that included sex.
None of the women found working were arrested, since prostitution is not a crime. Nor were any of the customers.
Authorities believe that the women are victims of "proxenetismo" - Spanish for pimping - a lucrative activity that provides the owners economic gain.
Article 169 of the Penal Code provides for a prison sentence of two to five years for anyone who is convicted of "promoting prostitution of either sex".
The two arrested were identified only by their last names, Carballo and Suazo. The businesses were New Fantasy and Bella Mansion, believed to be owned by the same persons.
The New Fantasy is located in Barrio Amon, on Avendia 7, catered mainly to foreigners, while the Bella Mansion is only several blocks away was a local bar with rooms in the back.
New Fantasy has had it's share of problems with authorities, being temporarily shut down last January for irregularities in it's municipal licenses.
The raids of Wednesday night are a result of a complaint by a private citizen and though police are aware of other operations in the area, there are no complaints filed against those businesses.
In a private interview with a manager of one of the businesses, claims that he is a victim of politics, authorities are trying to make him an example, and fierce competition.
Competition in the upper scale massage parlours has been fierce lately, with more massage parlours opening, and the claim is that dirty business is in play against New Fantasy.