L

ONDON: The Indonesian Embassy in Moscow, Russia, rescued two Indonesian citizens who were trapped in a prostitution ring there, an embassy official said.

The Indonesian citizens, told the embassy they were tourists there when they were offered to join transsexual prostitution in Russia. Both of them said they had had a transsexual operation.

Communication counselor Aji Surya said Friday the embassy’s telephone was ringing incessantly in the early hours of Monday. The staff who answered the phone heard were told by several Indonesians that they were locked in at an apartment in Moscow.

“They could not leave the place and had to serve customers without getting paid,” Aji said as quoted by Antara.

Ambassador Hamid Awaludin ordered his staff to contact the foreign minister and the police. The embassy team and the police managed to free the two Indonesians the following night after an undercover transaction was made. Another Indonesian involved, however, could not be found. — JP