HONG KONG: A Pakistani man was jailed for life yesterday, after being found guilty by the High Court of killing three prostitutes on three consecutive days last year.

High Court judge Justice Clare-Marie Beeson said the crimes of 24-year-old Nadeem Razaq deprived the victims of their lives and destroyed their families.

Razaq was found guilty of killing sex workers Tse Hau-yuen, 35, Sze Ming-lan, 35, Sun Xiumin, 30, from March 14 to 16 last year at their one-woman brothels in Yuen Long and Tai Po.

Razaq confessed to his crimes under police questioning, saying he strangled his victims on orders from loan sharks in Macao to whom he owed a HK$150,000 gambling debt.

Later he recanted, saying his confession was made under duress, after a police officer seized Razaq by the hair.

Razaq, testifying in his own defense, told the court he employed the prostitutes to allow the real killer, a man he identified as Tony, to gain access to the women's flats.

The seven-member jury hearing the case returned a unanimous verdict of guilty.

Razaq left for Macao on March 16 last year. He was picked up by Macao police and returned to Hong Kong.

New Territories Regional Police Headquarters senior inspector Lui Tak-leung said the police are grateful for the assistance given by Macao police.

Lui told reporters outside the court that sex workers should report to police if they believe there are threats to their personal safety.

A police spokesman said the department is committed to protecting the safety of all members of the public, including sex workers.

The spokesman said communications with sex workers and concern groups is gradually improving. Officers at the divisional level will visit one-woman brothels and maintain mobile phone contacts with the women who work in them.

The Crime Prevention Bureau will hold regular liaison meetings with concern groups, the spokesman said.

Jessy, a sex worker in her 40s, said she has always feared for her personal safety.

She said she once was robbed and had her mobile phone taken away by a man.

"Sometimes, the customers will not pay after enjoying our services, or even take our money away," she said.

Kendy Yim, executive director for the sex trade workers concern group Action for Reach Out, said police officers need to improve their attitudes when handling complaints raised by prostitutes.

Yim also suggested that the law that prohibits two prostitutes from working in a single premise should be amended.

"The safety of the sex workers can be better protected if two women can work in a single premise," she said.

Elaine Lam, a spokesman for another concern group Zi Teng, said police have improved inspections since murders and are handling complaints better by streamlining the procedures of crimes reporting.

(HK Edition 07/29/2009 page1)