Suspected pimp appears for trial

One of eleven defendants incriminated on allegations of promoting prostitution sat for his turn to a bench trial yesterday, where three key witnesses positively vouched for his involvement in the alleged commercial sex scam last April 12, 2000.

Defendant Xiang Jun Yang’s arrest stemmed from the Department of Public Safety’s “Operation Red Light Four” undercover investigation on the proliferation of prostitution on Saipan, where some 11 suspects were arrested.

Out of the number of arrestees, two have so far been convicted for promoting prostitution while three others have fled the Commonwealth prior to trial.

Five more cases are pending before the Superior Court.

Government prosecutor Marvin Williams brought before the court three male witnesses to the stand, including a police officer that claimed he saw from a distance the suspect almost strike a deal with the stand-in customers, pretending to seek sexual companionship that night.

Court proceedings revealed that the two other witnesses were part of the intelligence operation. Their assistance in the investigation was apparently tapped by police.

The second witness positively identified Mr. Yang from across the courtroom, confirming he was the very same individual who had recommended he avail of massage services at a place in Western Garapan for a sum of $120.

“He said, whatever massage I wanted, the girls would do everything. He also specified intercourse,” said the witness yesterday.

He further testified that the suspect even enumerated the price range for the girls available: $120 for women aged 19 to 26 and $70 for women over age 26.

According to the witness, Mr. Yang had introduced himself as an employee of a Japanese karaoke or snack bar located at Saipan’s busiest commercial district.

The suspect allegedly invited the witness and another companion to follow him to an area at the back of a shop where the women were at.

But the witness claimed he declined the suspect’s offer and immediately proceeded to the Dai-Ichi Hotel to use the telephone, where he called the police to report on what had transpired.

Meanwhile, authorities are fortifying efforts at eradicating traces of prostitution in the Commonwealth, amid growing concerns expressed by community members.

Police Commissioner Charles W. Ingram Jr., in a statement released to the media, affirmed that the government needs to effectively deal with prostitution practices in Western Garapan.

According to him, the Legislature must enact an effective statute that defines prostitution in such a manner that an arrest can be effected, where the perpetrator can be convicted.

He also underscored on the need for a law that would make prostitution conviction a mandatory deportable offense.

“I don’t agree that there are thousands of prostitutes roaming the streets. It appears that it may number in the hundreds. These prostitutes are not the home grown variety, 99 percent are contract workers or overstayers,” according to the commissioner.

DPS has submitted some recommendations for a statute that deals with prostitution, he added.

Mr. Ingram said it would take collective efforts from the Executive branch, the Legislature, and the judicial branch to effectively deal with the island’s prostitution problem.