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Justice Served? China’s Largest Call-Girl Ring Busted in Beijing
Feb 19, 2012By eChinacities.comEditor's note: The following article was translated and edited from a recent article published in The Beijing News, detailing the sentencing of 71 people recently arrested during a call-girl ring bust east of the Olympic Stadium in Beijing. While this may not normally merit attention in Chinese media, what is striking about this particular case is number of people that were arrested, and the unusual severity of the sentencing this time around, given the nature of their crimes committed, in particular, the many people who worked as "card issuers" for the ring (the people going door-to-door sticking a small card with the picture of a "sexy lady" and a phone number into the cracks of the door frame).Is Beijing stepping-up its crackdown on seedy activities, or were these people just the unfortunate recipients of "being made an example of"?
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Photo: bjnews
On February 10th, the second mass hearing for the 71 people arrested during a recent "call-girl ring" raid was held at the Court of Justice in the Fengtai District of Beijing, and 34 people (22 Men and 12 Women) were sentenced. This was the largest call-girl ring case in China's history. The oldest defendant was 52, and the youngest was only 19. The first mass hearing (33 people sentenced) took place on January 18th. The head of the call-girl ring, "Mrs Du" and her husband "Mr Cui" were fined and sentenced to 14 years and 13 years in prison, for the crime of organising prostitution. The other 32 people were fined and sentenced to between nine months and seven years in prison for assisting in organising prostitution. The final four members of the call-girl ring will be dealt with in a separate case, as they are minors. In addition, the call-girl ring's prostitutes are still being detained, and have not yet been held criminally liable.
The logistics of running a call-girl ring
According to the defendants' depositions, Du and Cui gradually monopolised the call-girl market in the Asian Games Village area in Chaoyang District (朝阳区亚运村) since they started in 2007 (there are two other call-girl rings in the area). Du and Cui streamlined their operation by using a single line of contact: 1) Their card printer delivered the call-girl cards to them; 2) They gave these cards to the card issuers, who worked in the vicinity of each big hotel, sometimes handing cards directly to hotel guest as they came and went, and sometimes leaving the cards in the door cracks of the hotel rooms; 3) Potential Johns (clients) used the telephone number listed on these cards to contact the card issuer, who determined the price and location for the meeting. The card issuer would determine a price for the trick based on the grade of hotel the john was staying in (500-2,000 RMB); 4) That card issuer would then contact Du and Cui who would then arrange for their full-time "black cab" driver to transport the prostitute to and from the John's room. To satisfy the demands of the Johns, Du would prepare a fake fapiao (invoice) for them; 5) Once the trick (meeting) was done, Du and Cui would collect the prostitute's money, take their commission (100 RMB per trick) and distribute the remaining money among the prostitutes and card issuers.
On a good day, Du and Cui were making more than 5,000 RMB; on a bad day it would be about 500 RMB. According to Du, although she was making good money, because Beijing is "so expensive", she only made about 180,000 RMB per year. At the time their call-girl ring was busted, five girls were working for them as prostitutes. The investigators also discovered that they had used foreign prostitutes in the past, as well as many underage prostitutes. Apparently, the girls all worked an equal amount; they drew numbers each night to queue up for their turns. In a given night, each girl would normally see 2-3 clients, or 4-5 on an exceptionally busy night.
Were the sentences too harsh?
According Zhang Yalin (张亚林), the associate Chief Judge of the criminal court at the Fengtai Court of Justice, the penalty for these 71 people was mainly based on their role in the call-girl ring and how much they profited from it. For example, "Mr Hu", who managed eight card issuers himself, was sentenced to six years, while "Mr Zhou", who handled the card printing, was sentenced to four years. In addition, "Mr Wan", "Mr Zeng", "Mr Yang" and three other people, who each have a prior record, were given stricter sentences of between 5-7 years in prison.
Upon hearing that she'd received a 14-year sentence, 28 year-old Du, weeping said: "All I did was serve as an intermediary for some prostitutes, is that worth 14 years? There is so much prostitution going on in society. Why make an example out of me? I know what I did was wrong, but the crime is hardly that serious. This is typical social conduct; there have always been prostitutes, all through the ages. I don't understand the law, but I don't think this is a huge deal." Cui and other defendants also believe that their sentencing was too harsh. All of them are considering appealing to a higher court.
In response to Du's comment that the sentencing was too harsh, Zhang Yalin, the associate Chief Judge of the criminal court at the Fengtai Court of Justice explained that organising prostitution has always been regarded as a major crime in China, and that the standard sentence is five years in prison. If the circumstances are more serious, that sentence can be increased to 10 years or more. When the circumstances are particularly bad, the sentence can become life in prison or even the death penalty. In measuring the sentences for the Du and Cui, four factors came into play:
- The duration of their criminal behaviour was long – they'd organised prostitution for four years (2007-2011).
- Under their management, they'd employed as many as ten prostitutes at one time.
- They employed nearly 70 card issuers who distributed a huge amount of these "call-girl" cards.
- They both highly profited from the operation – the base "management" fee for each prostitute each month was 1,000 RMB, added to the 100 RMB commissions they collected for each trick.
Source: bjnews
Related links
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Does China's Oldest Profession Need New Regulations
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I am pleasantly surprised by such article, better said by the information it refers to. It is rewarding for China image, knowing that in your Country such actions are taken held an so lives and the dignity of vulnerable people are saved. I definitely consider that measures like condemning pimps and even clients who encourage the sex exploitation are never enough to put an end to this criminal issues. At the same time, the sentences held against the heads of the prostitution net the article refers to I found them quite little if the damage of the girls who have been used would be taken in consideration. From simply the health of the girls used as prostitutes who are to face sexual illness for their entire lives to getting back their self esteem and meaning of a simple sense of life, the sentence will prove to be too little. These girls will need a whole life to heal their own bodies, which will never happen as well as to heal their souls. The price is highly paid not only for themselves but for their own families and the next generation to come, given the chance to pass sexual diseases to their future children.
I wish in Europe such actions to be held as well but it looks like this it won't happen. There are places where prostitution is taken in consideration to become legal in the near future. But this is Europe and there is China that is doing in the way I believe it should be always done... forbid prostitution, condemn criminal pimps and so prevent girls to fall into the trap that would destroy their life. Though the head of the sexual call-girl ring is now imprisoned, I am sure when he goes out, 14 years later will try it again... or maybe not. Anyway for such perverted people there is no cure whatsoever and so no sentence enough to make them pay for the eveil they perpetrate.
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Well I guess we've heard from the vindictive crowd. You try to sound like you have compassion by spewing hatred and condemnation. "Obviously I'm a good, moral person because I hate the bad ones so much."
You seem to think that pimps CAUSE prostitution (and all associated problems). Prostitution exists due to demand. Without agencies like this one, there would still be prostitutes. Just as many. That doesn't factor into your equation, does it?
I fully agree that young girls being coerced into prostitution is a serious problem, but that doesn't seem to be the issue here. You are not acknowledging that girls (due to many factors, including their own psychology) CHOOSE this line of work. And that it is safer being with an agency than going it alone.
Prostitution has existed since the concept of trade existed (thus being "the oldest profession"). You cannot stamp it out by punishing people. Or by punishing them EVEN HARDER. It takes a particular kind of simple-mindedness to believe that harsher punishments lead to harmonious societies. They don't.
I feel sorry for girls who have a hard life, a relatively dangerous and unpleasant job, and an unstable future. Unlike you, I also feel sorry for people who are sentenced to 14 years in prison for being in an industry that has always existed, in all countries.
Prostitution does not exist due to prostitution agencies, but due to demand. Without agencies, prostitution would still exist, but would be a lot more dangerous. Not all prostitutes are exploited girls who were happy and naive until a pimp snatched them away.
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Murder and rape has also always existed. Should we feel sorry for the murderers and rapists also?
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That's well put. It's like fighting the war on drugs: as long as their is a demand for something, there will be someone to supply that demand. The government sentences them harshly as a show, and then patronizes them at the same time. These people (government officials) will get their just rewards in due time.
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XinYuren, your logic fails because in your example (murder and rape) the victim has not consented to the act - the assailant has forced him or herself upon them, with the intent of doing them damage. You KNOW this is the logical difference you're missing.. why fish for it?
Prostitution is a consenting act (hopefully...) between the 2 (or more) people involved. It is a business contract - one mutually accepted by both as a win-win situation. The only problem with it is that in this country (and others around the world), it's illegal, and (most unfortunately) immoral. If 'morality' were not such an issue (ie, the need to put others down to feel superior), then the girls wouldn't have the self-esteem issues that were mentioned previously, and also, the practice would be much much safer for all concerned!
You'd be better with the drugs analogy...
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Xinyuren, you usually show a great deal of insight in your comments, but I think here your logical is, at the very least, impractical.
In the cases of rape and murder, the individual cases are not always simple but the concepts are universally understood. He/she who deprives a person of their life (murder) or their dignity/humanity/control (rape) is the guilty person. They get society's blame and punishment.
If we think of prostitution as a crime, the its much less straightforward: who is the victim? The prostitute? The client? The unwitting partner of the client (if they have one)? Society as a whole (I wouldn't like to have to formulate this argument)?
Surely if prostitution has a victim, its the working girl (less commonly, working boy) herself. Yet society's contempt falls on these people much more so than on the clients. I can't argue that the client is the victim! And surely not the pimp?
For myself, I have some sympathy for the prostitutes. Not all of them choose the life, many can't escape it. As for the 'clients' and the pimps: well, in this much I agree with Rain, no supply without demand.
Unlike Rain, I can't feel the slightest sympathy for the pimps. Long may they rot in jail. And I don't think we should judge the prostitutes any more harshly than those who use their services.
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You really believe it's a win/win situation? My god! Do you realize the emotional damage this does to women? Of course, you are a man. You just want the sex. In fact, the logic that it's a win situation for a woman who is reduced to selling the most valued thing she has for a few dollars is ridiculous. It may be a "win" for the man (that's even arguable), but it's certainly NOT a win for the prostitute who's self esteem cannot be regained for any amount of money. You speak of morality. Why do you think prostitution is considered immoral and wrong in EVERY civilized society? Because it causes irreparable damage to the girls who are involved in it. Their view of relationships, men and life are changed forever. There are very few who enjoy their job and for many others, it is a form of slavery. And it is illegal. Just like rape and murder. People who knowingly involved themselves in illegal acts do not deserve pity when they are punished...no matter how much the men who exploit them love it. You poor men who have to pay for sex never look beyond that fake smile those girls give you. You don't care enough to even fathom how much pain and desperation those prostitutes must have had to feel in order to resort to such a job. But hey, you got your sex, so it must be a "WIN"!
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Rain, I encourage you to please have a look and read about the extent of such old profession it means to people in today's days on this website humantrafficking.org. Definitely I have a visceral rejection against the pimps and I reiterate that there is no condemnation enough to make these foxes to pay for the evil they perpetrate. Exploiting natural weakness and natural inclination to easy sex turn this people a standard of deterioration of the human dignity a lively proves of how badly far we are. Taking advantage and coercing vulnerable young ladies into becoming prostitutes does not plead for mercy even if the guy in the article was crying out loud for it. He felt sorry for himself not for one soul he kept taking advantages out of her...during 4 years. This people have their conscience at peace, eat well, sleep well and are happy. This are the parasites of the human soul who know where to better suck everything out of the human nature weakness. This it makes them immoral, shrewd, opportunistic and criminals. They will never feel sorry for what they do and they will always play the victims like this pimp if that will help them from being convicted. Justice has nothing to do with mercy in this case yet the judge has clearly made the point in saying '' When the circumstances are particularly bad, the sentence can become life in prison or even the death penalty. I don't agree with this at all, I only say the judge took care to make him understand that the circumstances he was found to be guilty make him lucky.
Clients are also guilty as well as the pimps for being part of this misery. They encourage the sex market exploitation to the point that it reach out poor Countries like Cambodia, Philippines and all SE Asia Countries. Talk to victims Rain, dig in their own testimonies and see how much damage lays in the heart of these women whom prematurely, many of them are condemned to never understand happiness. Ask them what they think about this ancestral profession. But most of it I will ask this harsh question if ever you will not be able to see the whole point. What would you do if you hear that your very sister or mother has become a victim of this old profession? Would you still feel compassion or believe such sentence is not fair? Would you still be a client of a call-girl? When you will pay the needed attention, you will give up on any argument you just used and will simply hate the pimps, the clients and all this world that makes such profession to be so old.
My last suggestion, I hope you take it with my simple respect for you but I believe that people will better understand when somehow they are directly confronted with one of the worst misery of our human nature. It is an "imagine that..." suggestion.
Yes, I believe in the will to never tolerate such human nature and fight against it by principles, virtues..hence morality. If needed by condemning both pimps and clients likewise.
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When is Shanghai's turn?
You walk in Nanjing Lu, every 10 meters a guy or girl approaches you. Bags, Wathces, SEX Massage !
How these 3 articles go to gether?
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|Why do you think prostitution is considered immoral and wrong in EVERY civilized society?| Oh, that's an easy one! Any fool who has studied history and anthropology can answer that! It's because such 'civilised' societies came under the control of monotheistic (NB with that deity being depicted as a MALE) patriarchal rule, and women had their place as equals torn apart, and are now subjected to an inferior position in society. Please, take a look at every civilised society, and find just ONE where women are actually treated, in ALL areas of life.. .AND where prostitution is illegal!
There is one area of the world where prostitution isn't illegal due to monotheism.... it's in a polytheistic region of the world.... but, go and look at who is at the top of the chain... again, another male god!!!
The connection between religion and morality can't be denied, nor can those connections further be ignored between that 'morality' and law. End result? One particular religion or set of beliefs gets to define what goes into the law books...
If you ever happen to find a society where women are actually EQUAL, and there is a female depicted as the top of the local religion, you'll find that prostitution isn't the evil and degradation that people on here make it out to be!
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@Jean
I agree with a lot of what you and Xinyuren have said, and I feel a heavy and depressing kind of sorrow when I think about girls who are trapped in this industry.
While pimps may be unscrupulous and dirty (to varying degrees), without them there would still be prostitution. Especially in poor countries. And it would be just as dangerous and degrading.
Harsh punishment does not solve the problem. Countries with harsher punishments for prostitution do not have less prostitutes. Countries with harsher penalties for murder do not have less murder.
Decriminalising prostitution, on the other hand, means that women can go to the police for help, which solves a lot of the problems relating to violent pimps, women "needing" pimps for protection, and young women being forced into participation. While obviously it is a problematic industry anyway, it is made much more dangerous and dark by the law.
I feel really sorry for girls in this industry, many of whom, like you say, will never experience real happiness. But I also feel sorry for people, even the bad ones, who get "made an example of" by the law. They didn't have the same opportunities I had either.
What DOES reduce prostitution (and associated problems) is gender equality, an accessible higher education system, and a strong job market. Hopefully these things will develop in time.
I think you, I and Xinyuren all want the same result, but I don't think it can be achieved through punishment. I do of course fully understand your position, and appreciate intelligent and compassionate responses.
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Murder takes the rights of another by force. Prostitution (defined as 2 willing parties exchanging a service for money) does not violate anyones rights.
Any Prostitution that involves human trafficking is an example of that violation of another's rights.
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It's quite ironic. These government officials who hand down these sentences are some of the prostitutes main clientele.
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What a joke, In China its not do as i do, its do as i say, the judge's and police in China would be the most corrupt in the world, most men in china treat there wives like dogs, the money the police got off these people would go straight into there corrupt pocket's wake up China look whats happening in the Arab countrys ,it will happen in China soon,
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i agree with you on the corruption situation. but did you see any man treat his wife like a dog with your own eyes? if not, please hold your tongue!
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Yes i did, not all chinese men are like that, but many like booze and young women, & thats a fact
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Like your countrymen don't like booze and girls? come on dude.. every part of the world is the same.. that is why prostitution is the oldest "trading business" in the world.
tell me if your country do not have prostitute? Unless you are a fag/liar, tell me if you don't like young girls! for the booze part, "its not for everyone"
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I agree every country has prostitution, but they dont get 15years for selling fur burgers,
And another thing i for got to to say, The tax collectors & customs are some of the richest people in China riping people off ,
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i feel very sorry for the girls .I hope there lifes will return to a normal one i no a lot of them get pushed in to this life style because there family needs the money
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same's yo yuo..
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Feel sorry for the girls? Family needs money? It's a get rich quick scheme. The girls are too lazy (most) to work a 9 to 5 and want the latest in fashion accessories!! blame the media, the movie stars, etc, etc。 We are living in a world where more is better constantly being pushed to get more, buy this, buy that! Selling their soul for a Gucci fxxxing bag!
We all need to wake up! Stop buying that crap!! Simplify our lives!
As for men, god when are we bombarded everyday through the media, (this site also) with some half naked girl, teasing our god given senses. The act of making love in not a fxxxing crime! It's nature!
When I'm hungry I can just go buy food! God I hope one day I don't get arrested for eating an apple!
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A get rich quick scheme? This seems hard to believe. In case it is true, can someone shed some light on it? Not knowing the circumstances in China but there are many cases outside of China where a woman sells herself in order to feed her family or to improve her lifestyle beyond that of mayonnaise sandwiches. Forget about Gucci handbags. These people who sell themselves outside of China are looking for rent money and to be able to feed their kid. Sounds like a broad brush statement to me but it seems better to give someone the benefit of the doubt without knowing all of the facts.
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