Police statement released by Sanya Public Security Bureau. Photo: screenshot from the official WeChat account of the Sanya Public Security Bureau

After the incident of "Xi'an Zhumeng private cinema offering heterosexual escort services" attracted online attention, local police in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has assigned special task force to probe the matter and detained suspects involved, per a police statement released on Sunday.

The investigation revealed that the operators of the private cinema - three male suspects surnamed Pan, Wen and Zhang, and one female surnamed Wang - organized individuals to provide companionship services to customers under the guise of "service packages," seeking illegal profits and causing negative social impact, according to the statement released on Weibo account of Xi'an Public Security Bureau's Yanta district branch. 

The local police have now initiated a formal investigation into the organizers and "escorts." All individuals implicated in the case have been brought in for questioning. 

The four operators have been placed under criminal detention in accordance with the law. Three individuals who provided companionship services have been subjected to administrative penalties. The case remains under further investigation, read the statement.  

The local police vowed to continue to maintain zero-tolerance to illegal activities and firmly safeguard social order. All businesses are urged to comply with laws and operate in good faith.

The same day, the Public Security Bureau of Sanya, South China's Hainan Province has also released a statement of detaining the operator of a private cinema and penalized three employees in accordance with the law due to pornography-related violations.

The operator of the Beibei Private Cinema in Sanya surnamed Yang, a 32-year-old male, was criminally detained in accordance with the law. Three female employees, surnamed Ding aged 19, Zhu aged 20, and Cheng aged 25, faced administrative penalties, according to the official WeChat account of the Sanya Public Security Bureau on Sunday.

The legal liability of the premises lessor is currently under review. The case remains under further investigation, the statement said.

Sanya police hereby remind the public: Lawful and compliant operation is the fundamental bottom line for the survival of any business. No matter what disguise of the illegal or criminal activities, public security authorities will conduct in-depth investigations and impose strict punishment in accordance with the law with zero tolerance.

Global Times