11 prostitution organizers jailed in central China

The Royal No 1 Nightclub in Zhengzhou is shut down on Dec 17, 2014. [Photo/IC]

ZHENGZHOU - Eleven people have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from ten years to life over organized prostitution in a nightclub in Central China's Henan province between Aug 2012 and Nov 2013.

Chen Jiagui and Wang Guofu, two managers from the Royal No 1 Nightclub in Zhengzhou, the provincial capital, were convicted of organizing sex trade and sentenced to life in prison, said the Xinxiang Intermediate People's Court on Monday.

Chen was also found guilty of illegally selling cigarettes of top domestic brands to make profits. Chen and Wang's personal assets have been confiscated.

Nine other defendants received sentences from ten to 15 years along with fines.

The nightclub had employed more than 4,500 females in total before it was raided and forced to close on Nov 1, 2013.

The dossiers of 133 suspects were transferred to prosecutors in March last year, after a five-month investigation.

The 11 defendants stood trial in February. No date has been set by four courts in Xinxiang City for the remaining verdicts.

Eight police officers, including deputy head of the Zhengzhou Public Security Bureau Zhou Tingxin were implicated in the nightclub case. Zhou was later sentenced to six years for accepting bribes.