Bandar Seri Begawan - A Female Chinese national and a male Brunei permanent resident were brought before the Magistrate's Court yesterday on charges of allegedly soliciting a male person for the purpose of prostitution and making earnings from prostitution, respectively.

Both defendants, represented by Defence Counsel Hj Zul Sukarla, pleaded not guilty.

According to the agreed statement of facts accepted by the court, presided by Chief Magistrate Hj Abdullah Soefri POKSM DSP Hj Abidin, Chen Aiping, 30, and Lim Sai Ming, 42, were arrested in a raid at the Riverview Hotel.

The raid was led by the Anti-Vice and Gambling Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after receiving a tip-off from the public.

Lim was arrested in the lobby/reception area, where police confiscated his wallet and two handphones.

Police then raided one of the guest rooms, where Chen was found naked with a man, said the statement of facts. Police searched the room and found several contraceptives, a mobile phone and $242 cash, the statement added.

Officers then raided another room, where upon forced entry they found a woman sitting on one side of the bed, fully dressed, said the statement. A search of the room discovered contraceptives, yeast infection capsules, pieces of paper with numbers believed to be telephone numbers written on them, and a black Nike bag.

Lim confirmed with police that the bag, containing contraceptives, currency notes and a small memo notebook, belonged to him.

Police searched two other rooms. In one room were nine women of Chinese nationality.

The statement of facts described that "Upon the instruction of the head of the Anti-Vice and Gambling Unit, all the persons detained were arrested and all relevant evidence was seized."

"When the raid and initial investigation were completed, all arrested persons together with the exhibits (seized) were taken to the Anti-Vice and Gambling Unit at the CID (headquarters) at Ong Sum Ping (road in Bandar Seri Begawan)," the statement added. However, it did not elaborate on whether the number of people arrested included all 10 women other than Chen involved in the raid, or the man she was in the room with.

Lim's car was also seized as evidence and brought to the CID office. A search of the vehicle discovered contraceptives, a Royal Brunei Airlines flight reservation receipt, a small piece of paper containing phone numbers, $78 and an A4 sheet of paper containing more phone numbers, the statement said.

If found guilty of soliciting for prostitution, Chen faces a fine of up to $5,000 and 12 months in jail.

Lim also faces a charge of soliciting. He also faces a fine of $20,000 and a five years in jail if found guilty of earning from prostitution.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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