Court win for owner of ‘brothel’

A MASSAGE parlour shut down for allegedly acting as an illegal brothel will be allowed to be rented out.

But the Ashmore shop, which previously housed Body Back and Feet Massage, will not be allowed to be the premises for a massage parlour or an illegal brothel.

Magistrate Andrew Sinclair yesterday rescinded the temporary declaration as an illegal brothel placed over the Dominions Rd shop.

Under a temporary declaration, a notice must be placed on the door, the owner cannot enter and the premises must only be used for legal purposes.

It is the first time in Queensland a temporary declaration as an illegal brothel has been removed.

The order was made in November last year.

Owner Chye Cheah applied to have the temporary declaration removed. She said in court documents the temporary declaration was making it difficult to rent the premises out.

The massage parlour premises have since been gutted.

Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Graham Ruhle told the court he did not oppose the application so long as it contained conditions that it not be used as a massage parlour or illegal brothel. Mr Sinclair granted those conditions.

The premises still may be declared as a brothel, with a hearing to determine if a permanent declaration is made to be held on March 7.

Cheah’s lawyer Michael Gatenby said he hoped police were “sensible” and withdrew the permanent declaration application.