IN the ongoing trial of an alleged pimp and a call girl, where the duo were arrested last year for prostitution-related activities, the manager and the receptionist of the Riverview Hotel told the court that Lim Sai Ming was a regular guest at the hotel and was given a discounted rate a "majority of the time".

Jesse, the longtime receptionist of the hotel, said that Lim, 42, sometimes came alone to the hotel, but on other occasions he was accompanied by "one or two Chinese girls".

On the night of July 28, 2009, Lim, a Brunei permanent resident, and Chen Ai Ping, a Chinese national, were arrested during an anti-vice raid and were subsequently charged with living on or trading in prostitution and solicitation for the purpose of prostitution, respectively.

Nine other Chinese women were also arrested during the raid, but were later released and deported to China without charges being brought against them.

During court proceedings yesterday, Jesse said that he checked Lim into a hotel room booked under Chen's name and that he paid for the room on Chen's behalf with his credit card.

When defence counsel Hj Zul Sukarla asked the hotel manager, Teo, if this was a normal practice, he replied that it was a common occurrence.

Jesse also stated that he let the police into the room booked by Chen, after the Anti-Vice and Gambling Suppression Unit (AVGSU) received an anonymous tip-off about prostitution activities in the hotel.

Officers from the AVGSU raided four rooms and found Chen in one of the rooms "in a state of undress" with a man she believed was a customer, but who was actually an undercover informant for the police.

When the officers searched the room they found contraceptives, a mobile phone and $242 in cash.

In evidence given earlier during the trial, the head of AVGSU testified that the unit had engaged two men to work undercover as their "sources" during the raid.

Officers also raided another room, where they found a woman sitting on one side of the bed, fully dressed, with contraceptives, yeast infection capsules and pieces of paper with telephone numbers.

Nine other female Chinese nationals were arrested in another room, which was used as a "viewing room" for potential customers.

The alleged pimp, Lim, was arrested in the hotel lobby and his wallet and two handphones were confiscated.

If found guilty, Lim faces a maximum penalty of three years in jail and a fine of up to $20,000. The second defendant, Chen, 30, faces a maximum penalty of 12 months' imprisonment and a fine of up to $5,000.

The trial will resume on June 15.

-The Brunei Times/Asia News Network