Hilton hotel closed by Chinese police over prostitution charges (102 arrested)
samsung1
Ohio
Hilton has been severely embarrassed in China after one of its flagship hotels was closed down by the police over an alleged brothel operating in the basement.
The Hilton hotel in the central Chinese city of Chongqing was closed down by the police, who said the premises would remain shut indefinitely. A receptionist at the hotel confirmed it was not taking any bookings until mid-July at the earliest.
The vice squad raided the Diamond Dynasty karaoke club in the basement of the hotel on Saturday, arresting 102 people, of whom 22 were formally charged with offences, according to a spokesman.
A statement by Chongqing police said that an investigation had uncovered “a complete chain†of people involved in prostitution “involving the hotel managers, security guards, luggage carriers, receptionists and staffâ€.
However, a spokesman for Hilton Worldwide said the hotel company was not responsible for the running of the karaoke club, which the police believe was used for prostitution. “Hilton Worldwide abides by all laws in every country in which its brands operate and is fully co-operating with the investigation,†he said.
“While the karaoke club is located in the same building complex as our hotel, it is an independently owned and operated business. As this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot make any further comment,†he added.
It was not clear whether any hotel staff had been arrested. Hilton did not comment on whether similar nightclubs operate in its other hotels in China.
The police said they had investigated the hotel twice since last November, on suspicions that its Chinese investor, Kingrun Real Estate, may have links to the local mafia. A spokesman added that the Hilton was ordered to suspend its business on suspicion of its partner's involvement in organised crime and prostitution.
In many of its hotels, Hilton does not own the bricks and mortar of the building, but is contracted to manage and brand the property. In some cases, Hilton does not actually employ the staff inside the building either, merely training them to work within the brand.
Karaoke clubs are often used in China for shady entertainment and other international hotel chains have also been exposed by the police.
Last month, police raided the Passion Club at the Great Wall Sheraton hotel in Beijing and arrested 118 girls, leading them out en masse and in handcuffs.
Beijing police have closed 35 clubs since May and arrested 1,132 people, according to Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency.
Shanghai has also shut down its netherworld of hotel saunas, karaoke clubs and girly bars in preparation for the World Expo.
21 Jun 2010
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/china…
The Hilton hotel in the central Chinese city of Chongqing was closed down by the police, who said the premises would remain shut indefinitely. A receptionist at the hotel confirmed it was not taking any bookings until mid-July at the earliest.
The vice squad raided the Diamond Dynasty karaoke club in the basement of the hotel on Saturday, arresting 102 people, of whom 22 were formally charged with offences, according to a spokesman.
A statement by Chongqing police said that an investigation had uncovered “a complete chain†of people involved in prostitution “involving the hotel managers, security guards, luggage carriers, receptionists and staffâ€.
However, a spokesman for Hilton Worldwide said the hotel company was not responsible for the running of the karaoke club, which the police believe was used for prostitution. “Hilton Worldwide abides by all laws in every country in which its brands operate and is fully co-operating with the investigation,†he said.
“While the karaoke club is located in the same building complex as our hotel, it is an independently owned and operated business. As this is an ongoing investigation, we cannot make any further comment,†he added.
It was not clear whether any hotel staff had been arrested. Hilton did not comment on whether similar nightclubs operate in its other hotels in China.
The police said they had investigated the hotel twice since last November, on suspicions that its Chinese investor, Kingrun Real Estate, may have links to the local mafia. A spokesman added that the Hilton was ordered to suspend its business on suspicion of its partner's involvement in organised crime and prostitution.
In many of its hotels, Hilton does not own the bricks and mortar of the building, but is contracted to manage and brand the property. In some cases, Hilton does not actually employ the staff inside the building either, merely training them to work within the brand.
Karaoke clubs are often used in China for shady entertainment and other international hotel chains have also been exposed by the police.
Last month, police raided the Passion Club at the Great Wall Sheraton hotel in Beijing and arrested 118 girls, leading them out en masse and in handcuffs.
Beijing police have closed 35 clubs since May and arrested 1,132 people, according to Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency.
Shanghai has also shut down its netherworld of hotel saunas, karaoke clubs and girly bars in preparation for the World Expo.
21 Jun 2010
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/china…
Got something to say?
Start your own discussion
5 comments
Ouch, that was a very bad pun!
(probably why I liked it so much, LMAO!)
as for the story, sounds like the cops are looking to do some more shake-down operations, as from what I've read, in China, this sort of operation usually works hand-in-glove with the local police. they get some extra cash in their pockets, the city gets some more visitors who might not have come otherwise, and the people who run the operations make a ton of money. only people who gets screwed, in both the figurative and literal sense, as the women who work in these establishments.
I did not know what a hostess club was so I just looked it up on wikipedia. One review mentions everywhere charges a cover when the US Navy is in town. Bottoms Up lives offs its 007 reference.
Hostess clubs are a common feature in the night-time entertainment industry of Japan as well as other east Asian countries and areas outside Asia with a high east Asian population. They are establishments that employ primarily female staff and cater to males seeking drink and attentive conversation. The more recent host clubs are similar establishments where primarily male staff cater to females.
There is also a hostess club in Tokyo catering to lesbians.[3]
Been back to see H******* recently? I wonder whether she still has the 4 dogs???