An Argentinian has been arrested in Spain accused of sexually exploiting 10 women

A 43-year-old Argentinian was arrested in the Spanish city of Palm tree as the alleged perpetrator of the crime of exploitation of prostitution, accused of run a place where 10 women were sexually exploited.

The investigation began in early March as part of random inspections of homes and prostitution establishments by Group I of the Immigration Brigade, according to the DPA news agency, citing a press release from the Police of Spanish state.

In many cases, police explained, foreign women in an irregular situation are the most sought after for this type of “business”given the personal and economic vulnerability that the lack of a Residence Card which authorizes them to work legally entails for them.

Added to this is the fact that many of them are mothers with small children whom they leave in the care of their grandparents or other relatives and who in many cases depend to a large extent on the money they can receive from Spain.

The agents carried out, consecutively, two inspections in a house-brothel located in the Pere Garau district from the city of Palma, formerly called Palma de Mallorca.

At the scene, the police found a dozen adult women That, although they practiced prostitution voluntarily, they did so under onerous conditions and far from being recognized as workers, while generating important benefits for the local “madama”.

As explained by the Police Headquarters, the “madama” remained in some cases with up to 50% of each of the sexual services providedor charged abusive rent for allowing them to spend the night indoors, crammed into shared rooms with bunk beds where up to four women lived.

Similarly, in the living room of the house-brothel, a a bar-like counter where drinks were served to customers and they could also invite women, who shared the profits 50/50.

In the two inspections it was possible to verify that the house-brothel had been transformed into a clandestine place with bar service – in addition to the sexual exchanges typical of brothels – and was open to the public 24 hours a day.

The Police Headquarters then carried out a third inspection in collaboration with the Labor and Social Security Inspectorate, in which the relevant reports were drawn up and The alleged perpetrator of the activity was arrested as alleged perpetrator of crimes related to prostitution and against workers’ rights.

Prostitution in Spain is not regulated by a specific law, but there are some activities related to the business – such as pimping – which are illegal, although prostitution itself is not illegal

In addition, there are laws that protect minors or people with mental disabilities from this type of activity.

Owning an establishment where prostitution is practiced is legal in itself, but the owner it cannot make a financial profit of the prostitute or hire a person to sell sex because prostitution is not considered work and is not legally recognised.