Police close illegal brothel in Mt Waverley operating as massage parlour

POLICE have shut down an illegal brothel in Melbourne’s east masquerading as a massage parlour.

Police have shut down a brothel in Mt Waverley masquerading as a massage parlour.

POLICE have shut down an illegal brothel masquerading as a massage parlour in Mt Waverley.

The business in Anthony Drive was forced to close after investigators from the Victoria Police Sex Industry Coordination Unit acted on reports from an anonymous resident and the Monash Leader.

The premises were deemed a prescribed brothel on November 22 and it is now an offence for anyone to enter or leave the site until May 22 next year under a Magistrates’ Court order.

In a letter sent to the Leader and Monash Council, the man said he visited the massage parlour to address his sore back.

“After being asked to undress at the beginning, towards the end of the massage I was astonished that sexual services were offered,” he said.

In an online classifieds website listing, the massage parlour offered “sensual nude oil massage” and “sexy naughty girls” from its “very private shop”.

“You must have a good time to have a rest and enjoy our professional and nice girls,” the listing said.

The listing included several photographs of a woman scantly clad in lingerie in sexually suggestive poses.

After receiving the resident’s letter, the Leader in early October visited the parlour to ask what services were offered and for a price list.

When asked if “extra services” were offered, a female employee responded with a lewd hand gesture.

The Leader then reported the massage parlour to the council, which forwarded the report to police.

Monash Mayor Rebecca Paterson said it was pleasing police had shut down the business.

“Council takes seriously any complaints we receive about illegal brothels,” Cr Paterson said.

“When an illegal brothel is operating there are also no checks on the welfare of the people working there or how safe the operation of the business is.”

Cr Paterson said the council had also asked Victoria Police to investigate a property in Chadstone and another in Mt Waverley following concerns raised by neighbouring residents.

There are now eight legal brothels operating in Monash including two in Oakleigh South and three in Huntingdale, and in Burwood, Clayton and Oakleigh.