Brothel in Tibas Busted

[Miss Mimiuex]

Inside Costa Rica Sunday July 6, 2008

"Tibás Orders Closure Of Pensión That Was Front For Brothel


Following a series of reports by the Telenoticias, Channel 7's news team, during this past as a reporter with hidden camera infiltrated a "pensión" in Tibás that was a front for a "prostibulo" (brothel), the Municipalidad de Tibás ordered its closing.

The use of a pensión as a front for a house of ill repute is nothing new, in San José there are more than 100 "massage parlours" that operate under a pensión license.

Unlike in San José, the Municipalidad de Tibás, acted quickly, placing seals on the doors of the house that on the outside looks like any other house in the area, but inside is nothing but, offering sexual favours to clients.

According to municipal records the location has a had a "patente" (license) to operate as a pensión for about a year and a half, although area residents say the place has been operating for several years.

However, it wasn't until the Telenoticias cameras entered the premises and aired on national television did the municipality act.

Neighbour complaints led to a number of police investigations and inspections by municipal officials which resulted in nothing. However, the mayor of Tibás said the closure was ordered because the evidence gathered by the hidden television cameras was clear on what was going on in the location.

In addition, municipal officials will be inspecting with more frequency and vigor other similar locations in Tibás to ensure that they are within the municipal guidelines of a pensión and nothing more.

In the Tibás case the action was by municipal and not judicial officials, who told the press that the "fiscales" (areas prosecutors" will be investigating the case to determine if the owners were promoting prostitution.

Last week, judicial officials raided a locale in La Uruca, in the area of Hospital México, following an investigation that the massage parlour was a front for prostitution.

Similar investigations are ongoing around the country, bust seldom lead to arrests or in the case of Tibás the municipality taking action to shut down the premises.

Massage parlours or brothels frequently operate under the guise of a pensión, a license issued by the municipalities for the location. A pensión license, in contrast to a hotel, allows the license holder to rent a room to clients on a short term basis.

In effect, massage parlours operating under a pensión license rent their rooms to the girls and their clients. Bookeeping records are kept to record each and every transaction and available to municipal inspectors. What happens in the privacy of the rented room is not illegal as long as it is between consenting adults. Some locations offer their clients more than a room, but showers, sauna, steam room and lounges.

In Costa Rica prostitution is not illegal, but " proxenetismo" (pimping) is.

In the case of massage parlours, investigators have to prove that the operators are promoting prostitution or benefiting economically from the earnings of prostitution."