The National Police, in coordination with the Public Prosecution Service, has located and rescued 10 minors between the ages of 14 and 17 who were being sexually exploited in a hotel and bar called Mikin in La Cienaga, in the southwestern province of Barahona.
It also appears that some of the minors were drinking alcohol and selling it.
The authorities say that Amado Cuevas (Mikin), who owns both the bar and the hotel, was arrested, along with an employee, Johanny Hernandez Paredes (Yohanna), who was supposedly in charge of keeping an eye on the girls.
The Public Prosecution Service will be seeking pre-trial custody for the pair and will also be asking for the premises to be closed down.
The girls were taken to a shelter run by the National Council for Children and Adolescents (CONANI).
The investigation began with the support of the NGO, International Justice Mission after they received a complaint from the parents of a minor on 16 November 2015. They said their daughter had gone missing and that she had been taken to a bar in Barahona where she was being sexually exploited.
Consequently the bar was discovered with several minors present, including several who had been reported missing. It appears that Cuevas and Hernandez were paid between RD$300 and RD$1,500 by clients to have sexual relations with the girls.
The hotel was reportedly in poor condition and there was evidence of drug use.
The young girls were given breakfast, lunch and dinner and worked a seven-day week from 7 pm to 2:30 am and were paid RD$1,000 a week.
Diario Libre reports that Amado Cuevas (Mikin) is the PRM municipal candidate.
http://www.diariolibre.com/noticias/justicia/acusa-candidato-prm-de-explotar-menores-YJ1975771