Prostitutes take over city taxis

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): The city's more sophisticated prostitutes, driven away from their brothels by a police anti- vice unit crackdown, have worked out a new way of offering their services -- they operate from cabs.

The women, who charge their customers between Rp 100,000 and Rp 700,000, are driven around the city in the taxis, while waiting for orders from their pimps.

They then meet with their would-be customers at a designated spot, recognizing them through pre-arranged headlight signals.

Central Java Police spokesman Col. Bardja said that the authorities are intensifying their campaign to stop prostitution in Semarang and other cities in Central Java. (har)