Nishu Salon and Spa at 37-43 76th St. (Google)
April 19, 2019 By Christian Murray
The manager of a Jackson Heights spa was indicted today for allegedly requiring a female worker to offer oral sex and ‘happy endings’ as part of the massage services she offered.
Vajira Jayatunge, 50, who ran Nishu Salon and Spa at 37-43 76th St., faces a 10-count indictment charging him with sex trafficking, third-degree promoting prostitution, forcible touching and third-degree sexual abuse.
“Using threats and intimidation, the defendant in this case is accused of coercing a female worker to perform various sex acts on clients seeking massages with ‘happy endings,’ said Chief Assistant District Attorney John M. Ryan. “The defendant allegedly profited from these added services by pocketing the money himself. “
The victim, 36, was hired by Nishu Salon and Spa in May 2018 after being referred by an employment agency.
When she underwent training, Jayatunge allegedly ordered her to remove her clothes and touched her breast, inner thigh and genitals during these how-to massages. She was later, according to the charges, induced into adding masturbation, oral sex and sexual intercourse to the massages she performed on clients.
When the woman protested, Jayatunge, a resident of South Richmond Hill, allegedly told her to continue and threatened to tell her family that she was a prostitute and that he would have her deported.
If convicted, Jayatunge faces up to 25 years in prison. Bail was set at $200,000 and he was ordered to surrender his passport and return to court on May 1.
