The person registered as leasing the building is a homeless drug addict, according to evidence submitted to the court.
Vered Lee Oct 20, 2015
Haaretz
Haaretz
A Tel Aviv brothel has been shut down for 90 days – the longest period allowable by law – during which time prosecutors are expected to issue indictments against individuals involved in its operation.
Located at 98 Hayarkon Street, the brothel has been in existence for 13 years. It made the headlines in August, when a 36-year-old sex worker known only as Jessica hanged herself in the brothel room in which she lived and worked.
The brothel resumed activity immediately following the death, despite a public campaign calling for its closure. A number of protests were held outside the building.
Appearing before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Monday, attorney Igor Yutkin, represented the owner of the building Dalia Trofa, argued that the building was a motel, rather than a brothel, and that Trofa had no knowledge of prostitution on the premises. Yutkin added that there were no grounds to close the premises and that the owners had never previously been indicted.
It was revealed during the hearing that the individual registered as leasing the building is a homeless drug addict living in Tel Aviv’s central bus station. When the police summoned him to court, he said that he was not interested in the proceedings and that he did not oppose having the place shut down.
“I’m under the impression the building is a brothel,” the judge wrote in her ruling, adding that “there is a substantial basis for suspicion that the site will be used for criminal activity and resume functioning as a brothel unless an order is issued.” She said her statements were based on evidence collected at the site, including testimony from women who have worked there.
The judge stressed that closure orders had been issued against the site in the past and that police had informed Trofa that it was being used as a brothel.
“Many police investigations into the property have produced evidence showing that the property is used to provide sex services in exchange for payment,” she said. “Women are required to leave half of the fees they receive with those who run the site, and evidences shows that the business is run by a woman who coordinates meetings, as well as a guard who remains onsite.”
Prosecution attorney Dalia Abramoff said in response to the ruling that “the closure order handed down by the court is part of the country’s ongoing struggle against prostitution and abuse of female sex workers. A clear cry of support was issued today by the court in favor of the police and prosecutor’s efforts to protect female sex workers.”
The hearing was attended by representatives of various organizations opposed to prostution, as well as many Knesset members. Attorney Michal Liebel, from the Task Force on Human Trafficking, said that “the message here today is very clear. This ruling dissolves the ambiguity and clearly states that anyone involved in running a brothel – from owning the site, to renting it, to coordinating with customers – is part of the problem, and that the time has come to attack this problem, and eradicate it.”
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