Representatives of a Richmond massage parlour have said they considered selling the business after it was wrongly accused of being a brothel. Richard East, business advisor to Oriental Style Massage and Beauty, claimed the councillor, who has not been named, later 'apologised unreservedly' for the complaint and admitted it was 'unfounded'. Mr East made the comments at a licensing hearing held by Richmond Council to decide whether to renew the massage and special treatment licence held by the business, on Richmond Road, on May 28.
Directors Jinlan Long and Yujun Qin applied to renew the licence granted to the parlour in 2015, with the application made under company Jun Zi Lan Ltd, on March 26. A council report ahead of the meeting said the authority's licensing team originally received a complaint about the business on October 10, 2023, alleging illegal activity was taking place there. A letter from licensing officer John McGann said a ward councillor had made the complaint following concerns from a resident 'about the premises being used as a brothel and that trafficked women may be used there'.
READ MORE: Ice cream trader next to Hampton Court Palace 'lost half' his business overnight due to council blunder Licensing officers visited the parlour on October 12 and issued a warning letter stating it was in breach of conditions on its licence regarding the keeping of staff and client records. They also notified the Home Office due to concerns about 'possible illegal workers at .