WA: Madam charged with brothel-keeping

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WA: Madam charged with brothel-keeping

By Tim Clarke

PERTH, Aug 6 AAP - Police today charged renowned West Australian madam Mary-Anne Kenworthywith brothel-keeping, two days after the Director of Public Prosecutions dropped identicalcriminal charges against her.

The high-profile boss of the Langtrees bordellos in Perth and Kalgoorlie was servedwith a writ by police officers this morning.

On Monday, charges of keeping premises for the purposes of prostitution against MsKenworthy were dropped by WA DPP Robert Cock QC, who said pursuing the charges would bea waste of community time and money.

However, Assistant Commissioner Mel Hay vowed the WA police would continue to pursuethe charge themselves and officers visited the New-Zealand born madam today to issue asummons under the Police Act.

Serious offences in WA are usually dealt with under the Criminal Code and more minoroffences under the Police Act.

Certain offences - including brothel-keeping - may be prosecuted under either code.

Ms Kenworthy said the charges against her were ludicrous, whether laid under criminalor police auspices.

"The same argument applies to both charges, so the fact the police are pursing themis ridiculous," she told AAP.

Ms Kenworthy was initially charged with keeping a premises for the purposes of prostitutionduring a police raid on one of her Perth brothels on November 29 last year - 18 yearsafter she first started selling sex.

If convicted, Ms Kenworthy faces a possible six month jail sentence. The criminal penaltyis up to three years in prison.

AAP tc/alm/cjh/br

KEYWORD: KENWORTHY