Raid - West End - Burlington

[Pompal 09.]

Here is an article about a recent raid on a Burlington MP. Must not be very fun to be a "found in".


Police raid Aphrodite's
Owner among four people arrested following investigation of complaints

Dennis Smith
Apr 24, 2002

The owner of Aphrodite's says he is remaining open and staying put, despite bawdy house charges at his exotic massage business.

"Business will continue as usual," said Xay Sayavongsa. "I won't be going anywhere soon and this will involve a long, long process in court. I will be staying at 28 Plains Road East."

During a Monday morning interview, the owner said he'd probably be arrested. A few hours later Sayavongsa was charged with being the keeper of a bawdy house.

Halton Regional Police arrested three other persons during a raid at his business last Friday. Police have been investigating Aphrodite's since February.

Sgt. Val Hay said Sayavongsa's release will be conditional on his staying away from Aphrodite's. (He's slated to appear in Burlington provincial court on May 29. Others charged are slated to appear on May 22).

Police have not sealed the property, however. "We have not shut down the place and have no plans to do so, from a police perspective," she said.

The investigation followed complaints about the operation of a common bawdy house, said Hay. "We've been dealing with different forms of information and anonymous tips."

Following Friday's raid, two women were charged with being inmates of a common bawdy house and a man was charged with being found in a common bawdy house.

These types of charges are made in connection with sexual activity, said Hay. The 'inmate' charge is usually used for employees or regular occupants, she said. All those charged reside outside Burlington.

Police seized numerous items following the raid, including a client registry and an appointment book.

Further information is being sought. "We hope anyone who has attended these premises in the past will come forward," said Hay. "Investigators are encouraging people with information to come forward."

Aphrodite's had closed over the weekend, but Sayavongsa said he was opening again Monday.

"I'll open as long as my staff indicate they're willing to work," he said. "I'm opening for the people that want it."

Although Sayavongsa anticipated he would be charged, he was confident the business would continue. He maintains there's no illegal activity occurring at Aphrodite's.

Sayavongsa believes he can defeat any charges against himself or the business in court.

Legal battles will cost everyone a lot of money, he added. "This is fine, if you want to waste the taxpayers' money."

Sayavongsa said the city should have licensed him to operate an exotic massage business elsewhere in town.

"They could've let me alone and let me do my thing," he said. "And I would've been out of here."

The city's new body rub parlour bylaw allows for two such businesses -- but in industrial areas outside Aldershot.

Rick Craven said if Aphrodite's remains open, the city will give it 14 days to move from Plains Road.

"Regardless of the legal issue (the charges) there remains the issue of compliance," said Craven, the area's alderman. "The new bylaw is good, strong and defensible."

If Aphrodite's remains on Plains Road, the owner will be taken to court, said the councillor.

Craven said the bylaw will keep exotic massage businesses out of Aldershot, including Aphrodite's.

"Whether it's shut down over legal issues or because of the new bylaw, it's inevitable," he said.

Local residents had gathered a petition of more than 1,000 signatures urging that Aphrodite's be moved from Plains Road.

 

[BB(Inspectah Deck Stan)]

I remember this guy was in the news last summer. Something about all his neighbours in the strip mall he was in wanted to see him closed down.

 

[Maya]

He's an ignorant punk but might do wonders for the MP industry. Burlington spent 6 million trying to close down Solid Gold and failed and Aphrodite is right across the street.

 

[Fishie<3]

Was this guy a Licenced MP????????

 

[Lisa D]

If the cops have the evidence that sex acts take place at the MP, it should be open and shut. Given the animosity that the other businesses and residents feel for him, he should probably have relocated and side-stepped LE's attentions before this all blew up.

Bet LE raids him again in the next 2 or 3 months, just to zap him for staying open.