Taiwan busts 11 suspected of smuggling Chinese women

TAIPEI, Oct 29 (Reuters) Taiwan authorities have detained eleven people, including a senior immigration clerk, on suspicion of collaborating with gangs that smuggle Chinese women to the island for prostitution, local media reported today.

The Taipei District Prosecutor's Office detained immigration clerk Lee Jo-ling and ten other suspects, including a gang boss, yesterday after a night of questioning, the China Times reported.

Taiwan's Central News Agency said that clerk Lee Jo-ling is accused of taking bribes from a snakehead ring to let about 80 Chinese women into Taiwan by having them pretend to be local men's pregnant wives. They were apparently smuggled for prostitution.

Lee allegedly received 30,000 dollars to 80,000 dollars per case, Central News Agency said, and she has been fired.

On Friday, the prosecutor's office ordered a search of Lee's office, her home and 17 brothels run by the smuggling ring, the news agency reported. She faces five years in prison if convicted of corruption charges.

Taiwan seldom allows Chinese people to live on the island for any reason, as relations with China are strained by deep political issues and Beijing's occasional threats to use miliary force. But for humanitarian reasons, Taiwan sometimes fast-tracks residency processing for pregnant Chinese wives of Taiwan men.

REUTERS SP VV1105