A set of online photos tagged as "pretty prostitutes from the Passion Nightclub" are actually of a movie actress, a TV hostess and a model, the stars claim.

Those involved are Zhan Yi, a graduate of the Central Drama Academy who starred in the films Thimble and The Good Sunshine in June, Zhao Yong, a TV hostess from Guangdong province, and Peng Bo, a model from Beijing, the Beijing News reported on Thursday.

Passion, maybe the most famous nightclub in the city, was ordered to suspend business for six months on May 11 for allegedly providing sex services during a police crackdown.

Shortly after the mass arrest, a post spread through the Internet, titled "unveiling the truth of prostitutes from Passion KTV." It said it contained photos of "pretty prostitutes".

The report said the photos were quickly copied into about 80 other websites, stimulating a huge interest from netizens.

Zhan, Zhao and Peng said the photos are actually of them, uploaded without authorization.

Zhan said she first found the online post and photos on May 16. Her agent, surnamed Zhou, said the posts referred to her as Yaoyao, aged 19, 173 cm tall and from Hubei province. Zhou said the information was untrue.

"I took that photo myself in my lunch time and uploaded it onto my blog and QQ space," Zhan said.

"I solemnly declare I am not a prostitute from Passion KTV," she wrote in her blog on May 19.

Zhan entrusted her lawyer on May 21 to send written warnings to involved websites, forums and blogs, asking them to make a public apology and remove the content.

The second purported victim, TV hostess Zhao, was known as Zhang Xiaoyan in the post.

Zhao said on Wednesday she was first extremely angry, but has since calmed down.

"I felt alone in my fight to kill these horrible rumors," she said.

"But I am consulting with my lawyer as to whether I should make a joint declaration with the two other victims."

Model Peng was described as a 20-year-old prostitute, 177 cm tall, from Beijing.

"I want to tell everyone that the photo was stolen and the information does not relate to me. I am completely innocent," Peng said.

Beijing police initiated a special crackdown on April 11.

During the month-long campaign, 35 entertainment places were closed, including Passion Nightclub, No 8 Club KTV and Sunworld Dynasty Hotel KTV, for allegedly providing obscene shows and acting as shelters for prostitution.

Among the 35 entertainment places, six bath houses had their licenses revoked and another 29 were ordered to suspend business for six months.

China Daily

(China Daily 05/28/2010)