Five arrested for sexually exploiting minor girls

The Dutch police arrested five persons suspected of sexually exploiting at least two minor girls by inciting them into prostitution, the Public Prosecutor announced on Thursday.

The arrests were made late in May. Three people aged 32 and a 17-year-old girl are still in custody. A 57-year-old man was released, but is still a suspect.

This case came to light early this year when the police found a photo of an underage girl missing from Amsterdam on a website advertising sexual services. Further investigation led the police to a house in Huizen where the girl was found along with a 17-year-old girl and a 32-year-old man.

The 32-year-old man in the house was immediately arrested based on the charge that he withdrew the minor girl from parental authority. He was released a short time later. The man was arrested again, this time on suspicion of forcing two minor girls into prostitution, based on information on his phone. The 17-year-old girl found in the Huizen house was also arrested as investigation revealed she played a part in encouraging at least the missing Amsterdam girl into prostitution, according to the Prosecutor.

The police investigation also led to the arrest of two other 32-year-old men and a 57-year-old man from Krommenie. The court ordered the release of the 57-year-old man, though he remains a suspect. The other suspects are still in custody.

The police spoke to two victims so far and believe that more arrests will follow.