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Court acquits suspected pimp
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Posted on Jul 22 1999
Citing lack of evidence, the Superior Court yesterday acquitted a man of prostitution and loitering charges.
In acquitting Zhang Liang, Superior Court Associate Judge Timothy Bellas said there was no sufficient evidence to prove that the defendant committed the offenses he was charged with.
Zhang was arrested by police officers last Jan. 27 based on a warrant issued by the court.
The government launched last year an island-wide crackdown on prostitution following the enactment of anti-loitering measure, which is aimed at giving teeth to the CNMI’s anti-prostitution law.
The Attorney General’s Office charged Zhang on suspicion that he was pimping.
The arrest warrant was issued based on an action which Zhang was supposed to have committed a few days before his arrest.
Last week, the government stepped up its anti-prostitution drive by launching the Operation Red Light in Garapan, where eight suspected pimps and prostitutes were arrested.
The government’s actions were in response to the federal government’s concern about the alleged proliferation of sex trade in the CNMI. (MCM)
