For second time, parlor accused of prostitution
BY CHRIS GAETANO
Staff Writer

SOUTH BRUNSWICK - Responding to complaints from nearby business owners, police raided a massage parlor suspected to be a front for a brothel April 19.

The three-week investigation resulted in the arrest of the owner, Young Sook Kang, 48, of Fort Lee, who was charged with promoting prostitution. This is the second time in seven months that suspected prostitution drew police attention to the Pine Day Spa on Georges Road, having conducted a similar raid in September last year resulting in two arrests.

According to Jim Ryan, public information officer of the South Brunswick Police Department, three different undercover officers set up appointments for massages. In each case the officer was solicited for sexual activity. After the raid, Kang was lodged in the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center on $15,000 bail. This is Kang's third arrest for promoting prostitution.

Chief Ray Hayducka personally took part in the raid in order to send a strong message to the proprietor of the establishment.

"Legitimate businesses are always welcome in our community, but this place has got to be shut down. ... I wanted her to get the message loud and clear, so I told her in person: If you set up again I will place a uniformed officer outside your door," said Hayducka.

According to Ryan, after the raid last year, the business closed for a while and then opened again under new ownership. However, it is the belief of authorities that Kang is associated with those arrested in the previous investigation, who were also from the Fort Lee area. It is also believed that the alleged brothel was only set up recently and hadn't yet developed a base of new clients.

Police seized money, records, tables, a washer and a dryer. This is the second time police have seized all the contents in the building in order to shut the alleged brothel down.

"The goal was to try to shut down the establishment - we did it last time and we're going to do it this time," said Ryan.

Brothels have sporadically sprung up in South Brunswick over the years. Besides the raid in September of last year, police also raided a massage parlor at Jefferson Plaza in June 2005, resulting in two arrests.

Ryan said that a big factor in the appearance of suburban brothels is that the areas are growing, but there is less competition than in the urban areas. He also said that people perceive the penalties to be light, and feel confident setting up.

Hayducka and the mayor and Township Council are currently working on an ordinance to better regulate massage parlors to discourage brothels from appearing in town. North Brunswick, having faced similar difficulties before, has already passed an ordinance regulating massage parlors.