A Phnom Penh couple was charged with procuring prostitution on Friday after being arrested earlier this week following a monthlong investigation into a brothel they ran out of a coffee shop in Tuol Kok district, police said.
Municipal anti-human trafficking police chief Keo Thea said that Mao Vannak, 30, and his fiancee Kim Thyren, 25, opened the coffee shop about three months ago along Street 598 in Boeng Kak II commune and employed three women as waitresses and covert sex workers.
“After we investigated for one month, our forces raided the place on Wednesday evening and arrested the couple,” Mr. Thea said, adding that police had found used condoms on the premises.
He said the three women—who told police they had engaged in the sex work voluntarily—were released after questioning, while the two proprietors were charged with procuring prostitution at the municipal court on Friday and sent to Prey Sar prison to await trial.
If found guilty, they face up to five years in prison.
