The owner of the alleged Sandton brothel which was busted by Pretoria police this week is believed to be involved in the recruitment of women from Eastern Bloc countries.

According to police, the man recruits the women and tells the department of home affairs that they will be employed by a fictional "computer company".

The women then apparently end up working as dancers and entertainers at his upmarket premises, Club 37 in Hyde Park, Johannesburg.

Police do not know at this stage the number of women the man may have brought into the country but figures are expected to emerge during further investigations.

'The women then apparently end up working as dancers and entertainers'
Police on Wednesday night stormed the property in William Nicol Drive after an intensive investigation by members of the Pretoria Organised Crime Unit uncovered suspicious activities at the premises.

The man was arrested for transgressing the Immigration Act by allegedly employing and harbouring illegal immigrants, as well as for alleged offences under the Sexual Offences Act.

The man, who was born in Russia but has been living in here for 17 years and has obtained South African citizenship, was arrested along with five women believed to have been employed by him.

Police Superintendent Morné van Wyk, said the man - identified as Leonid Dudkin, 47 - appeared in the Johannesburg magistrate's court on Thursday where his case, along with his previous charges, was postponed until July 28.

He is currently out on R15 000 bail.

During the raid, police also arrested a Ukrainian woman for whom they have been searching for 15 months.

Van Wyk said documentation implicating the attractive blonde woman, had been found during a previous raid.

"We eventually traced her passport but on arresting her on Wednesday we discovered that she had another passport with the same name but a totally different picture," he said.

A Zambian national held in the raid yesterday pleaded guilty in the Johannesburg magistrate's court to a charge under the Immigration Act. The magistrate sentenced her to three months' imprisonment after which she will be deported to Zambia.

Two Zimbabwean women who were arrested were released once their documentation had been checked with the Department of Home Affairs. A Bulgarian national, who also appeared in court yesterday had her case postponed until today on the request of a translator.

Several drugs were also confiscated from the house, which was kitted out with low lighting, dance poles and a bar.

The substances allegedly included Ecstasy tablets, CAT and cocaine.



This article was originally published on page 3 of The Daily News on July 16, 2004

I wish as many cops will investigate the two burgelaries I had at home the past two months

For sure the cops suck, it might be wise to stay away from clubs for a bit.