HK men fined $12,000 for Internet pimping

Two Hong Kong men who set up an online directory of prostitutes that received up to 100,000 hits a day have been fined 12,000 U.S. dollars, a news report said Friday.

The men were found guilty of conspiring to live off the earnings of prostitutes, an old law that is usually used against pimps.

According to a report in the South China Morning Post, the men charged prostitutes a flat monthly rate be listed on the website between March and December 2003.

They were arrested after a corruption investigation, which centred on police officers receiving kickbacks from brothel owners in return for warning of upcoming raids.

The men, aged 37 and 28, were also given eight-month jail sentences, suspended for two years.

The case is believed to be the first time that publishers of advertisements for sex services have been targeted for prosecution. (dpa)