Court remands trader to federal custody

The U.S. District Court has rejected a proposed third-party custodian for a trader who is accused of recruiting workers whom she allegedly forced to work as prostitutes.

In a hearing sometime last week, Chief Judge Alex R. Munson did not approve of Arlene Borja as proposed custodian of defendant Zheng Ming Yan, also known as “Li-Na.” The judge remanded Zheng to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.

Zheng had presented Borja as a proposed custodian so she could be released on bail. The defendant had denied the charge of interstate travel for purposes of prostitution.

Zheng allegedly made three Chinese workers work as prostitutes using his karaoke bar as front.

Zheng reportedly operates five businesses on Saipan under two corporations—Great Corp., also known as Greate Corp., and Perfect Corp. The businesses include the Tea House Club Karaoke, 369 Noodle House, Real Live Fish Restaurant, Chan Ming Market, and Golden Cut Hair Salon—all located in Garapan.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier arrested Zheng, accusing her of recruiting workers for prostitution. At least three workers from Dalian, China—Lian Wei, Chi Xiumei, and Wei Qiuxiang—complained against Zheng.

In a complaint filed earlier in court, FBI special agent James T. Barry said the first two women arrived on Saipan on Oct. 3, 2004. Lian allegedly paid $1,900 to the recruiter, while Chi paid about $4,000. Chi agreed to pay half the fee, about $2,400, to the defendant.

Wei, meanwhile, arrived on Saipan on Nov. 11, 2004. Barry said she paid $1,250 to the recruiter and agreed that she would owe the defendant about $5,000.

Barry said all the workers were promised legitimate jobs with a pay rate of $7 per hour. When they arrived, though, the defendant allegedly made them work as prostitutes. Although the women wanted to leave, they were forced to stay back, as the defendant told them they have no way of settling their debts and purchasing airfares back to China except by working as prostitutes.

Barry said the workers would wait inside Zheng’s karaoke bar, while another employee, acting as a pimp, would find customers outside and bring them in. Barry said customers were allowed to pick a girl; then they would go to a room in the back of the bar for sex. He said Zheng regularly collected the night’s earnings from prostitution.

The defendant allegedly paid nothing to Lian and Chi for their first six months; and Wei, her first four months. Barry said the defendant started to pay the workers afterwards, but not at the promised hourly rate and with unlawful deductions.

The court has set Zheng’s trial beginning Oct. 24.