York Regional Police have charged a man with a number of prostitution-related offences, including the allegation that a 14-year-old girl had been forced into providing sex for money.

The service said Monday in an interview that the investigation began last month after hearing allegations that a "common bawdy house" was being operated near Warden Avenue and Highway 7 East in Markham.

"Through investigation, it was discovered that on several dates in January 2008, a 14-year-old female victim was procured and found to have performed sexual acts at this location with the accused and various other men for financial compensation," police alleged.

"During the investigation officers located two other female victims and provided them with assistance," the said.

Last Thursday, police conducted a traffic stop and arrested the 29-year-old suspect, who is a Markham resident.

On Friday, police executed search warrants at three locations in Markham that they believed to be associated with the suspect. They say evidence seized at two of those locations suggests that prostitution-related activity was being carried out at them.

"Investigators believe that the accused was soliciting clientele through advertisements on two websites," police said.

Those websites now appear to be inactive.

Hon Sing Tsui, also known by the street name 'Joe Doa', faces 16 different offences (and multiple counts of some of those), including:

  • sexual interference
  • keeper of a common bawdy house (2 counts)
  • procuring a person to become a prostitute (2 counts)
  • procuring a person to Canada to become a  prostitute
  • living on the avails of prostitution (4 counts)
  • living on the avails of the prostitution of a minor

Tsui was held in custody pending a appearance Monday at the Ontario Court of Justice in Newmarket.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Drugs and Vice Unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext.7640, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips, leave an anonymous tip online atwww.1800222tips.com or text a tip by sending TIPYORK and your message to CRIMES (274637).