Virus cops bust open secret illegal brothel

Police on a raid under the new coronavirus restrictions busted a secretly operating brothel and two alleged prostitutes.

Police conducting a routine check on businesses to make sure they were complying with coronavirus restrictions unwittingly busted a secret brothel and arrested two alleged prostitutes.

Detectives from Queensland Police busted the alleged brothel yesterday in the inner-city a Brisbane suburb of Lutwyche which is known for its red light district.

The police were conducting a compliance check on the massage parlour when they discovered it was still offering massage services, flouting new coronavirus social distancing and isolation regulations.

Two infringement notices were issued at the massage parlour on Monday for failing to comply with COVID-19 public health directives.

Under the Queensland Chief Health Officer’s directions, spas and massage parlours can no longer operate during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

However, police also found the same business had allegedly been offering prostitution services.

A 37-year-old Kedron woman was issued with a notice to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on June 6.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said the two alleged prostitutes were issued with fines. Picture: Darren England

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She was charged with knowingly participating in the provision of prostitution services and possessing tainted property.

The woman was also issued with an on the spot infringement of $6,672.50 for a business which failed to comply with public health directions under the Public Health Act.

Another woman, a 25-year-old from East Brisbane, was issued with a notice to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on June 6 in relation to the offences of knowingly participating in the provision of prostitution services.

The woman was also issued with an on the spot infringement of $1,334.50 for failing to comply with public health directions.

Queensland Police Commissioner Katrina Carroll said the fines related “to a compliance check of licensed and unlicensed brothels we were carrying out”.

The two women will face court on June 6 on the prostitution charges.

Police in all Australian states and territories have carried out a crackdown on parties, gatherings or businesses which do not comply with the nation’s new stringent coronavirus measures.

Australia has recorded more than 4500 cases of coronavirus with 19 deaths.

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