Fake prostitute bar scam artists go to trial

Beijing Times
December 30, 2008

Eight people, including a bar manager and five women, went on trial yesterday in Beijing on fraud charges.

The bar manager was accused of hiring the women to lure people with the false promise of sex. In return, the women, who ranged in age between 19 and 22, were to be paid kickbacks equivalent to 25% of amount that the victims spent at the bar.

The bar manager, identified by his surname, Yu, denied the fraud charges. He said that he was unaware of the scam, and that prices were clearly marked for the bar's goods and services. Yu admitted that he had distributed leaflets looking for people who could bring in business, and that he was later contacted by a man who did the actual recruitment. That man, Ying, was also tried yesterday.

Since May, police received more than ten reports from bar customers of similar scams, resulting in three busts.

Also:

● Suspects involved in the Sanlu scandal, including the former chairman of the board and other high-level administrators, will stand trial tomorrow in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province.

● Online registration for the city's annual public service examination ended yesterday. 31,411 candidates will compete for 2,707 government jobs.