THE Superior Court has dismissed the case against a tourist who was among seven persons arrested during a raid last March at a karaoke bar in San Jose which was allegedly used as a front for prostitution.
Associate Judge David A. Wiseman dropped the case charging Yasuo Soma with soliciting prostitution.
Wiseman dismissed the case following the Attorney General’s Office’s motion.
Assistant Attorney General Kevin Lynch said upon additional investigation, the case against Soma cannot be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
Robert O’Connor, counsel for Soma, said yesterday that they were “very pleased” that AGO, after interviewing witnesses, concluded that the tourist’s case should be dropped.
“Mr. Soma was unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time. He dropped by Yellow House Karaoke Bar to see the manager’s new baby and was sitting on the couch early one evening with the baby on his lap when the police pulled a vice raid on the establishment,” said O’Connor in a press statement.
Agents of an AGO task force raided Yellow House and arrested six women and Soma.
The tourist allegedly tried to negotiate payment in exchange for commercial sex, the agents earlier claimed.
