Police raid illegal brothels, warn landlords to be wary about massage services

POLICE have warned landlords to be wary of tenants starting massage services after two women operated parlours that ran as unlicensed brothels.

Sex worker at 'La Petit Aroma', Chatswood in Sydney, which is a legal brothel, filmed during special investigation into legal and illegal brothels by The Daily Telegraph.

POLICE have warned landlords to be wary of tenants starting massage services after two women operated parlours that ran as unlicensed brothels in Moreland and Darebin.

Police raided five illegal brothels in June, which led to two convictions in the Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Friday, December 5.

A 29-year-old Derrimut woman was fined $7500 with conviction after pleading guilty to five charges of running an illegal brothel, five charges of living on the earnings of sex workers, one of employing an unlawful non-citizen and one of dealing with the proceeds of crime.

And a 24-year-old woman, also from Derrimut, was fined $3000 with conviction, having pleaded guilty to five charges of running an illegal brothel.

Sergeant Richard Farrelly, of the sex industry co-ordination unit, said the prosecutions included a property in Gilbert St, Preston, which had been a massage parlour that had been closed by the real estate agent.

Other massage parlours — in Lygon St, Brunswick East, and two in Sydney Rd, Coburg — had changed hands or operation, while Lolilove Massage, at 419 Bell St, Pascoe Vale South, has been declared a proscribed brothel, with penalties for anyone found on the premises without a lawful excuse.

Sgt Farrelly said anyone contemplating receiving illegal sexual services should think twice.

“There’s evidence of human trafficking at unlicensed brothels (unrelated to these five),” Sgt Farrelly said.

“There are a lot of vulnerable people working in these (types of) shops.”

“There are a lot of vulnerable people working in these (types of) shops,” — Sgt Richard Farrelly

He advised landlords to thoroughly check the references and qualifications of any tenant wanting to open a massage parlour on their premises.

“Landlords are innocent parties caught up in all this,” he said.

“There are legitimate massage shops, but they do get tarred with the same brush.

“Ensure that the real estate agent does regular checks of the premises to ensure there’s no illegal activity.”

Australian Association of Massage Therapists chief executive Tricia Hughes agreed it was important to check qualifications of anyone wanting to perform massages.

Ms Hughes said people wanting massages could check for professional therapists by visiting ausmassagedirectory.com.au.

Any suspected illegal activity should be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.