KOROR (Palau Horizon) — The Supreme Court Appellate Division has upheld the ruling of the trial court convicting the manager of a karaoke bar in Koror for prostitution activities.
Tsai Chien Chun, or Kenny Tsai, owner of Hot Chil Bar was convicted of attempted profiting from prostitution and obstruction of justice. However, Shirley Tulop’s obstruction of justice conviction was reversed by the appellate court.
The appellate court acquitted Tulop since the statute on obstruction of justice does not cover her alleged conduct.
In filing the appeal, Tsai’s lawyer said the law on prostitution is too vague to be enforceable.
Moreover, there are insufficient evidence to prove that he engaged in prostitution activities, his lawyer said.
But according to the appellate court, several witnesses had testified that Tsai forced his employees to go out with their customers in “a manner that clearly was intended to be sexual and that on at least a few occasions actual prostitution occurred.”
The appellate court said Tulop’s action coercing a witness to sign a false affidavit, “although worthy of punishment, does not fit within any of the categories established in the law.”
The case stemmed from the investigation of labor and employment practices at Hot Chili karaoke bar which resulted in the filing of several criminal charges.
Tsai was charged of cheating his employees of their wages and inducing them to engage in prostitution.
Tsai was also convicted of obstruction of justice by attempting to send home various witnesses against him to the Philippines so they could not testify for the prosecution.
