Life terms for two executives, nine others are given prison sentences; all say they will appeal

Eleven people were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 years to life on Monday over organized prostitution at a nightclub in Henan province.

Chen Jiagui and Wang Guofu, two executives and major shareholders in the nightclub - the Royal No 1 in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital - were convicted of organizing the sex trade and sentenced to life imprisonment at Xinxiang Intermediate People's Court.

Chen was also found guilty of illegally selling wine and cigarettes for huge profits at the club without having a license for such business. The personal assets of Chen and Wang have been confiscated.

Nine other defendants were given sentences of 10 to 15 years along with fines ranging from 80,000 yuan ($12,900) to 1 million yuan.

All of the defendants told the court that they will appeal.

Zhang Xi, a spokeswoman for the court, said: "The court heard the case in private sessions according to relevant laws in February and made the sentences public on its micro blog today (Monday). The suspects' right to appeal is welcomed and respected."

Eight police officers, including Zhou Tingxin, a former deputy chief of the Public Security Bureau in Zhengzhou, are still under investigation and suspected of harboring the illegal prostitution.

According to the police investigation, the club had been involved in organized prostitution at its six-story, 150-room premises since it opened in August 2012.

The investigation also found that the club used to hire about 1,000 prostitutes, with each able to earn at least 100,000 yuan a month for providing sex services.

The club was raided and closed by police from Xinxiang in Henan on Nov 1, 2013. Officers detained 256 suspects in the raid, including 133 who were later transferred to judicial departments for prosecution in April last year after five months of investigations and evidence collection.

By Monday, the court had not set a date for the remaining verdicts to be announced.

Lei Tao, a lawyer at the Co-Effort Law Firm in Zhengzhou, said the convictions in the case were "accurate" and the sentences "fair and reasonable".

"Prostitution is illegal in our country. Organizing the sex trade on a large scale usually incurs tough legal punishment such as life imprisonment and the death penalty.

"This case involved a large number of suspects and has had a significant negative influence on a large area of society, so the sentencing is fair and has sufficient deterrent power," Lei said.

Contact the writers through sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 05/26/2015 page4)