Man in prostitution case gets 2 yrs.

Superior Court Associate Judge John A. Manglona sentenced Friday a 57-year-old Chinese to two years imprisonment after he was found guilty of soliciting prostitution during an entrapment operation by the Department of Public Safety seven months ago.

In what appeared to be the court’s strongest message against prostitution on the island, Judge Manglona’s decision came as a surprise since Assistant Attorney General Marvin James Williams only recommended a 60-day jail time for Yi Lu Zhong.

The maximum penalty for people charged with promoting prostitution in the second degree is five years imprisonment.

Mr. Zhong was among the eight Chinese nationals rounded up by the police in a raid on July 10, 1999. He was the first among the several men and women charged with promoting prostitution in the second degree to face trial and be sentenced by the court.

Based on a police report, Mr. Zhong approached a government witness on July 10, 1999 and offered him sex for money by going to a club where the client can choose different women. An apartment is also available nearby for the customer where he can have sex with prostitutes.

According to Mr. Williams, lack of honesty in the testimony of Mr. Zhong and the fact that he did not show any remorse for the crime he has committed during the trial prompted Judge Manglona to impose a stiff penalty.

Judge Manglona also found 27-year-old Yi Xiou Zhen guilty of soliciting prostitution. Sentencing has been scheduled for today.

A combined team of police, immigration and labor officials conducted three raids last year as they swooped down on bars, karaoke clubs in Garapan, the island’s tourist district, in a move to curb the growing flesh trade on the island.

Maj. Clyde Norita, assistant chief of the Office for Special Services, Department of Public Safety, has vowed to continue carrying out the raids on these establishments believed to be prostitution fronts.

Business leaders and hotel executives have expressed concern on the prostitution problem in Garapan which they said adversely affects the image of the Northern Marianas as a family destination.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio sought the cooperation of various government agencies to strengthen efforts in clamping down the proliferation of prostitution on the island.

The CNMI government has expressed concern on allegations that Asian women, mostly Chinese and Filipinos, are being smuggled into the Northern Marianas and sold as prostitutes to brothels.