Illegal brothels Infinity Massage and Lumo Massage, on Malvern Rd Glen Iris, shut down

Two illegal brothels in Glen Iris, flanking a shop where children’s art classes are held, have been shut down.

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Two illegal brothels in Glen Iris, flanking a shop where children’s art classes are held, have been shut down.

The operators of Infinity Massage and Lumo Massage, on Malvern Rd, face fines of up to $190,000 after the businesses were declared illegal brothels by the Magistrates’ Court.

Jasmine Tunstall, whose shop, Art Soup Melbourne, is sandwiched between the parlours, said she was horrified to find they were offering sexual services.

Lumo Massage was one of two on Malvern Rd declared an illegal brothel. Picture: Rebecca Di Nuzzo.

Ms Tunstall said she became suspicious after seeing an employee wearing a skimpy outfit walk into one of them, but her fears then grew when she saw the sexual nature of the shop’s online advertisements.

“There was a girl in hotpants and a bikini and I thought that’s weird massage attire,” she said.

“I was 100 per cent concerned. I did everything I could to try and get it sorted.

“I just felt really sad for the girls. There was always an older woman there who wouldn’t let them speak to me.”

Another massage parlour on Chadstone Rd in Malvern East was also declared an illegal brothel last month.

Sergeant Craig Buttigieg from the sex industry coordination unit said anyone with information about a suspicious business should call police.

Those found to be offering illegal sexual services could face jail as well as a fine of up to $190,000 and anyone found entering or leaving an unlicensed brothel could face up to a month’s jail or fines of more than $1500.

No staff were on site when the Leader visited last week, and calls to Infinity and Lumo Massage went unanswered.