Prostitution big problem in Medan

Prostitution big problem in Medan

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Councilors consider prostitution in town to have reached a "very worrying" level with the trade being practiced, not only in recreational centers, but in city parks as well.

City councilors Ajib Shah and Zulkarnaen Malik said that in many areas, prostitution was practiced in conjunction with illegal drug and alcohol trafficking.

Ajib said that some of the prostitutes, many of whom were still in their teens, were willing to serve customers for only Rp 40,000 (US$18).

Ahmad Yani Park, a new prostitution site which is a playground for children during the day, for instance, comes "alive" from about 12 midnight until dawn, he said, as quoted by Antara. Many of the illegal activities are protected by hoodlums and some corrupt plain-clothes policemen, he said. (pwn)