Saitama cops arrest trio for pimping 42 teen hookers

TOKYO (TR) – Saitama Prefectural Police earlier this week busted employees at a “delivery health” sex service for employing teenage girls, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Nov. 21).

On Tuesday, officers from the Omiya Police Station raided an establishment in Saitama City’s Chuo Ward and took Yuki Asakura, 22, and two other suspects into custody on suspicion of fostering child prostitution.

According to documents seized, the trio dispatched 42 girls, with ages ranging between 14 and 17, to male customers since March of last year. During that period, the ring collected 70 million yen in revenue, according to TBS News (Nov. 20).

In one case, a third-year school girl (then 15 years old) had illicit encounters with two men on three occasions in February and March at love hotels in Saitama City and Kuki City.

All three suspects have reportedly admitted to the allegations. “Young girls are good for attracting customers,” Asakura is quoted by police.

A 16-year-old boy responsible for recruiting the girls was among those arrested. In addition to street solicitation, customers were found by posting messages on Internet bulletin boards, according to public broadcaster NHK (Nov. 19).