Rydalmere brothel worker Lihua Zhong sentenced for breaking Covid rules
A prostitute who defied cops and returned to work at a western Sydney brothel after being told to move on for flouting Covid public health orders has learned her fate.
Joanne Vella
Sex worker Lihua Zhong, also known as Honey, has pleaded guilty to breaking Covid rules and working at the Royal Asian Brothel at Rydalmere, where $12,500 worth of fines were issued after the public health orders were breached in August.
Police slapped the fines on employees and customers at the Euston Rd brothel, which was still operating on Monday, August 30, despite the strict lockdown rules and breaking the 9pm curfew.
NSW Covid rules required sites such as sex service premises, strip clubs and sex on premise venues to be closed to the public during lockdown.
Cumberland police swooped on the brothel about 10.15pm after a tip off from Crime Stoppers that it was still operating despite the public health orders.
Police facts state cops first spoke with brothel owner Maggie Xu, 57, Zhong, of Strathfield, two other female employees, aged 36 and 56, and two male customers, aged 56 and 57, who were not wearing masks.
Police facts state they heard the sound of a shower coming from a room where they found Zhong in a bathrobe with a man.
The six adults initially denied the business was operating – one man stated he was quoting for painting works, and the other was visiting his girlfriend.
The group was advised they would each receive a fine for not wearing face masks and all but the 36-year-old woman, who was living at the premises, would be fined for breaching curfew in an area of concern.
The owner also copped a $5000 fine for failing to comply with noticed direction for a corporation.
The owner, customers and workers, including Zhong, were ordered to return home. Zhong refused to leave until she left with Ms Xu in a taxi.
But just after midnight on August 31, police saw Zhong walking towards Euston St while smoking a cigarette and told police she was returning to the brothel.
She was arrested and taken to Granville police station, where she was charged with not complying with curfew in an area of concern and not wearing a fitted face covering indoor area of common property.
At Parramatta Local Court on October 5, the matter was adjourned so a Mandarin interpreter could assist Zhong.
She pleaded guilty on October 19 and she was not convicted but given a conditional release order (good behaviour bond) for six months.
Sauce: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dai...fe3a7585%3Famp
“one man stated he was quoting for painting works, and the other was visiting his girlfriend.”
It is possible!!
