Jakarta Police shut down on Sunday traditional massage parlors in two towers at Kalibata City Apartment in South Jakarta that were allegedly operated as fronts for prostitution businesses.

Two suspects, identified only as H and M, have been named for allegedly offering prostitution services to their customers through the WeChat messaging application. 

"The messaging app has a feature that enables them to discover new tenants in the buildings," said Jakarta Police’s IV unit chief at the General Crime Division Adj. Comr. Rovan Richard Mahenu, according to kompas.com. 

H and M allegedly sent messages to new tenants containing information about the massaging services along with photos of the therapists. 

The Police's general crime deputy director Adj. Sr. Comr. Ade Ary said that one massage session cost around Rp 500,000 (US$36). The pimps allegedly took 40 percent of the money the therapists received from each customer. 

"The pimps [dubbed Mami and Papi] took Rp 200,000 while the therapists received Rp 300,000. We have yet to discover their profits earned from the business," he said. 

"They usually operated from 9 a.m. until dawn," he added. (vla)