Police in HCM City arrested Miss South Mekong 2009 yesterday for allegedly running a high escort service, which involved models, beauty contestants and students.
Miss South Mekong 2009 My Xuan was arrested for running a prostitution ring. Photo by Bee.net
On June 2 afternoon, officers from the Police Department of Criminal Investigation in Social Order (PC45) made a surprise inspection of a hotel in District 1, HCM City and discovered four couples caught in the act.
According to initial reports from the police, the women were paid between USD2,000 and USD2,500 and were all models, singers and actresses.
After further investigation police suspected that they had uncovered a prostitution ring, managed by Tran Quang Mai, 40, of Tan Binh District. Mai was arrested one day later, together with two others, Vo Thi My Xuan and Nguyen Huu Dat.
Vo Thi My Xuan, 27, originally from Hau Giang Province, won the South Mekong Beauty Pageant in 2009. She pursued a career in fashion, participating in several fashion shows and appearing in a number of magazines. Xuan is currently an assistant for a marketing company and a popular model in HCM City.
Tran Quang Mai was working as a waitress at a bar when she met My Xuan and Nguyen Huu Dat, who was a driver for a local marketing company.
The three allegedly colluded to recruit attractive women for a high priced escort service.The operation also organised 'sex tours', with prices ranging from USD20,000- 25,000 a three-day trip.
My Xuan was accused, not only soliciting herself, but also of arranging liaisons for students and models.
On May 24, Hanoi police raided a hotel in Ba Dinh District and caught two couples in the act. Ho Chi Minh City police found another couple at M&M hotel.
Among those detained was model and actress Hong Ha, who is accused of being paid US$1,000-1500 for sex. Hong Ha has modeled for both domestically and internationally and starred in several movies.
