7 accused of forcing girl, 12, into prostitution at karaoke

The All-China Women's Federation has lashed out at seven people who allegedly solicited and forced a 12-year-old girl into prostitution in Qidong county, Hunan province, calling their acts a "moral free-fall".

In a media release issued on Wednesday, the federation asked judicial authorities to bring the suspects - including a State-owned bank employee and local government worker - to justice as soon as possible.

The group said that similar cases in recent years had sounded the alarm, demanding more action be taken quickly to protect minors from criminal acts - a crucial part of social governance that concerned the nation's future.

Families, schools and government should form an alliance to detect and deter crimes against minors, and ensure children grow up in a "safe, healthy and respectful" environment, it added.

News website ThePaper.cn reported late on Tuesday that among the seven suspects, six have been arrested by local police for allegedly forcing the girl, surnamed Zhou, to offer sex services at a local karaoke bar.

Another suspect was on bail because she is pregnant, the police said.

Zhou's grandfather reported her missing to police on Oct 3, four days after she ran away from home. Police found her at a hotel on Oct 6 and discovered she had been working at the karaoke bar owned by two of the suspects.