Alleged ringleaders of prostitution network appear in Montreal court

Update: The charges against Daegun Chun were quietly stayed in 2018. Nine years after his arrest, he wants an apology and compensation.

The two people whoRCMPsay are ringleaders in a Canada-wide prostitution network,Daegun Chun, 41,Ying Li, 31, appeared in court in Montreal on Thursday afternoon facing several charges related to procuring and pimping.

Crown prosecutor GianniCuffaro saidhe expects several other charges to be laid in the case soon, including human trafficking and gangsterism.

Cuffaro said there was "overwhelming evidence" in the case.

Li and Chun were arrested in Toronto yesterday. They're currently facing charges of gaining material benefit from sexual services, procuring, procuring minors and advertising sexual services.

RCMP say they were involved in bringing hundreds of young women from China and Korea into Canada illegally and forcing them into prostitution in cities across Canada, including Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.

Six people, including Chun and Li, were arrested in raids in Toronto and Montreal between March 27 and April 1.

Another suspect, Jeongwhan Seo, 31, was arrested Thursday morning near Jasper, Alta.

MlanieWilliams-Johnson, 20, of Montreal, is still wanted.

Li is to appear in court in Montreal next Tuesday for a bail hearing.

Chun's bail hearing is set for April 29, along with three of the other suspects in the case.

Cuffaro says he expects to have more information about possible new charges then.