|
Russian diplomats in sex probe
January 20, 2005
Finnish police said today they wanted to question two Russian diplomats in
connection with a prostitution ring that operated out of property owned by
Moscow's trade representation in Helsinki.
Finland has made a formal request to its giant neighbour for official help in
ensuring the diplomats can be brought before investigators despite their
diplomatic immunity, police added.
The head of Russia's trade representation, Valery Schlyamin, denied late last
year, when news of the ring surfaced in Finnish media, that staff were in any
way involved.
Schlyamin told Reuters at that time that apartments used by prostitutes
belonged to the representation. He was not available for comment on the latest
police statement.
Helsinki Police Inspector Seppo Sillanpaa said a 41-year-old Russian woman
admitted she ran brothels in up to 10 apartments owned by the trade
representation in the Finnish capital over a 16-month period between 2003-2004.
She said she took at least some of the proceeds to the representation,
Sillanpaa told Reuters, adding a conservative estimate of the money earned from
the ring was ˆ170,000 ($293,711).
"We obviously can't question the two men who were in charge of property issues
at the trade representation due to diplomatic immunity," Sillanpaa said.
"We have sent a request to Russia for official assistance to be allowed to
question them, although we don't expect a great deal out of that. If it remains
that way, the woman ... will be the only one charged."
In Moscow, Russia's Foreign Ministry said it knew nothing of the alleged
pimping scam.
Sillanpaa said police would send the case to prosecutors tomorrow. He said the
woman would probably be charged with aggravated pimping, which carries a
maximum jail term of six years.
Pimping and buying sex is illegal in Finland under legislation introduced after
years of increased prostitution since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Russian and Estonian women were lured into Finland by the promise of money to
be made in the sex trade while continued poverty faced them at home.
Comment on this story,
click here.
Copyright 1999-2004, AsianSexGazette.com. All rights reserved. No
content may be reproduced in whole or part without written permission.
Please contact us via the link below for re-print and syndication policies.
|
|
Russian
commercial envoy downplays prostitution allegations
12-6-2004
|
