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Berlin police find 117 prostitutes and over 100 clients in mega-brothel

Nine hundred police officers have raided one of Germany's biggest brothels, making six arrests ov...
Newstalk
Newstalk

10.19 15 Apr 2016


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Berlin police find 117 prostit...

Berlin police find 117 prostitutes and over 100 clients in mega-brothel

Newstalk
Newstalk

10.19 15 Apr 2016


Share this article


Nine hundred police officers have raided one of Germany's biggest brothels, making six arrests over alleged human trafficking and tax fraud.

The operation follows months of investigation into the Artemis 'mega-brothel' in Berlin, which is alleged to be linked to the Hell's Angels organised crime syndicate.

Police charge that the four-storey brothel complex constituted 'brutal and illegal prostitution' that severely exploited dependent women, mostly from eastern Europe, Russia and the various Arab countries.

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Brothel managers stand accused of evading around €17.5m in social security payments since 2006.

Prosecutors also contend that staff at Artemis were forced to pretend to be self-employed to avoid the payment, even though the prostitutes were in fact regular employees with set work hours, price rates and instructions to perform specific sexual acts.

Hells Angels bikers allegedly procured women for the club in return for favours including free admission, said state prosecutor Sjors Kampstra.

Police were acting on information from a prostitute who had escaped brutal treatment at the hands of her ex-partner.

So-called "mega-brothels" are common throughout Germany, attracting tourists from neighbouring countries with stricter laws, and sex workers from Eastern Europe.

The prostitution industry, legalised in Germany in 2002, is thought to be worth around €16bn per year.

The number of prostitutes in Germany is thought to have doubled to 400,000 over the last 20 years.

Investigators focused on tax evasion charges "like they did with Al Capone", said Berlin chief prosecutor Andreas Behm.

To pay the tax bill, Berlin police said they had confiscated €6.4 million in cash, cars and property, including 12 apartments and other premises in Berlin and nationwide.


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