Police in the central province are investigating the Hoa Kieu massage parlor in Phan Thiet City on charges of illegal detention. Nguyen Huu Thanh, 38, the owner of the parlor, and four male employees were arrested on Oct. 3.
The investigation was prompted after a woman reported that her daughter, who worked at the parlor, was being confined and would need VND120 million ($4,830) to be freed. Police confirmed that the daughter, along with five other women, was being held in the attic, locked behind a metal door.
The women were only allowed out to cook and serve guests, with their movements and activities strictly monitored. Thanh reportedly instructed his male employees to control the keys to the attic locks and oversee the women's activities.
One of the victims, the woman whose mother sought help, allegedly owed Thanh VND120 million. Unable to continue working due to illness, she had her phone confiscated and was prevented from contacting her family. Thanh had demanded her family pay the debt to secure her release.