Despite charges, brothel owner plans to re-open

Yvonne O’Loughlin reports on Ms Hua’s plans to re-open her brothel in Dublin

A Chinese woman convicted of operating a brothel in Dublin’s South inner city is reportedly planning to re-open her business in the coming weeks.

The News of the World article claims Jun Kiu Hua, 45, is planning to re-establish the brothel which was being run from a 3 bedroom flat on Thomas Street.

According to the report the brothel was closed in the run up to Chinese New Year but that Ms Hua answered her phone two days after the court case and said it would re-open in just two weeks.

Ms Hua was charged with running the brothel on dates between April 2 and April 18 last year. Ms Hua’s flat was raided following a surveillance operation carried out by the gardai.

While carrying out a search of the flat where Ms Hua was arrested, a cheque for €27,500 was found and cash totalling €7,400 was seized. A number of bank accounts containing €265,000 in total were also seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Gardai arrested Ms Hua and brought to Kevin Street Garda Station where she was charged with the offence. She made no reply when asked if she understood the charges against her.

Ms Hua pleaded not guilty on February 8th at Dublin District Court. Judge Dermot Dempsey heard that Gardai took statements from seven men who admitted they had received sexual services at Ms Hua’s address.

Witness Brendan Clarke, told the Gardai that he was “going for a Chinese massage.” He said it cost €50 for a half hour and €70 for a full hour, “extras” were an additional €30.

Clarke told State solicitor Dermot O’Neill he was sure that there were multiple people in the apartment at the time. He explained that he asked for a one hour massage, took off his clothes and lay down on the massage table. He said extras were discussed but decided not to go ahead with it as he felt uncomfortable with the idea. He told the court that after the massage he got dressed and left.

Brendan Mahon, another witness in the case, said he suffered with a bad back and went there for a massage. He told Mr O’Neill that he rang a number and went to the address in Thomas Street and paid €80 for his massage.

The third state witness, Mr Tommy Bruce, told Judge Dempsey that he had arranged for a massage over the phone. When he arrived Ms. Hua answered the door and he was ushered into a room where he handed over €80 for a massage and a hand job from an Asian woman.

When asked if there were any discussions beforehand Bruce said “You know why you are there and she knows why you are there. It’s not rocket science.”

Judge Dermot Dempsey said he was satisfied that Ms Hua “knowingly allowed the premises be used as a brothel.” He handed down a fine of €1000 and a 3 month jail sentence which he suspended.