Police jump on online strip club

TALLINN - Tallinn police closed an online striptease service last week that used two adolescent models for Web-cam shows. The company's management could face up to five years in jail for the use of under-age girls. This is the first case of its kind in Estonia.

Police arrested the 36-year-old managing director of the company and a 28-year-old security worker. The latter has an earlier criminal record. According to Tallinn police spokesman Kristo Kelder, the company was the branch of a Dutch firm.

Located in the capital on Tollu Street, the club had employment contracts with 15 women aged up to 38. The youngest were 16 and 17 years old.

The Web site was up 24 hours a day, and women worked in three shifts, making 4,000 kroons ($228) to 5,000 kroons a month.

For $10 dollars a month, a subscriber could watch a regular striptease show, and for four to six dollars a minute the ladies performed what were called private room shows.

Kadri Palta, press representative for the Estonian Police, said Web sites of this kind are not prohibited in Estonia, as long as there is a note saying people under 18 are not allowed to pay a visit.

There are 10 online striptease Web sites operating in Estonia at the moment.