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Police today (Monday) appeal to victims who have been blackmailed and robbed by pimps and prostitutes to come forward.

The appeal was made following the arrest of a man and a woman in a hotel in Nathan Road, Yau Ma Tei, by undercovered Police officers of Special Duties Squad of Yau Tsim District (SDS/YT) early yesterday (Sunday) morning.

Following extensive investigations into complaints received in the last three months, an undercovered Police officer of SDS/YT disguising as a client telephoned a company which advertised sex service and asked for a foreign prostitute yesterday.

As the officer waited inside a room of the hotel, a Chinese

woman, instead of a foreign prostitute, was sent in. The woman threatened to call in the bouncers when the officer refused to pay $300 to her.

He was further demanded for $10,000 by a man whom Police believe to be a pimp arriving at the hotel shortly afterwards.

Pretending to have bought only $1,500, the officer handed the man and the woman all his money before revealing his identity. The officer together with other officers ambusing nearby arrested the man and the woman for blackmail, theft and robbery.

Upon enquiries, Police believed the man was connected with four similar offences in Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, Wan Chai and North Point last Friday and Saturday (September 17 and 18). The money involved amounted to $3,500.

The 20 year-old man has been released on $2,500 bail and is required to report back after two weeks while the 40 year-old woman is still being detained for enquiries.

Similar operations by officers of the District earlier this month have resulted in the arrest of two men and a woman.

The woman and one of the men have already been charged with blackmail, theft and robbery while the remaining man has been released on Police bail.

Any person who have been victimised by similar modus operandi is urged to contact the investigating officers of District Crime Squad, Yau Tsim at 2731 7376 or call the Police hotline 2527 7177.

Police Report No.4

Issued by PPRB

End/1650 hours, Monday, September 20, 1999 (CA/TL)

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