On Tuesday, the Luxembourg City court delivered its verdict in the appeal proceedings involving six former staff members of the Club Pearls establishment in Trier.

While the initial sentences of six months suspended imprisonment for the three male defendants were upheld, the outcomes for the three female defendants were notably harsher. The former owner of the establishment as well as the other two female defendants received suspended sentences of 36 months and fines of €2,500.*

At first instance, the former owner was initially sentenced to 18 months suspended and a fine of €2.500. As for the other two defendants, one, who held a managerial position, received 18 months suspended and a €1,000 fine at first instance, while the other, who worked at the reception, initially received a suspended sentence of 12 months and a fine of €1,000.

The charges against all six defendants included allegations of prostitution, human trafficking, and money laundering. They were accused of organising house calls by prostitutes employed at Club Pearls for a minimum of five years, including arranging encounters with clients in Luxembourg. Throughout the trial, the defendants maintained that they were unaware of the illegality of house calls in Luxembourg.

*An earlier version of this article erroneously stated that the other two female defendants received suspended prison sentences of 18 months and €1,500 fines.