Police have raised charges of pimping at a “gentlemen’s club” in Riga | In the spotlight

The State Police (VP) has urged the prosecutor’s office to bring charges in the current case of pimping in the “gentlemen’s club” in Riga.

On October 28, 2019, officials of the Department for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings and Pimping detained a group of five people – three owners and two administrators – for pimping in a “gentlemen’s club – bar” in Riga. For a long time, these people have been offering prostitution services to wealthy foreign nationals. Previously, these persons have not been punished, LETA informed the LP.

It was found out that in the specific club, illegal activities were organized both indoors and by order, going with the client elsewhere. The place of entertainment was not available to every visitor, it could be entered only with the recommendations provided by the club members and undergoing a strict check or “face control”.

In the criminal proceedings, law enforcement officers carried out six authorized searches in various places in the Riga region – in the club, in the residences of persons and in cars. Objects and documents relevant to the evidence in the criminal proceedings were seized during the searches.

Three of the detained men were remanded in custody by the court, while the rest were sentenced to non-custodial measures.

In the criminal proceedings, the money of the suspects has been seized for the total amount of more than 10,000 euros.

The case has now been referred to the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Other Sectors for prosecution.

It has already been reported that last summer the police also sent a criminal case to the prosecutor’s office for pimping in three gentlemen’s clubs in Riga and money laundering.