A third Blue House worker spoke to the jury yesterday, identifying Officers Anthony Quenga and David Manila as two of three Guam police officers who visited the brothel before it was shut down in 2008.
The woman, identified as K.C., is the prosecution’s sixth witness to testify in the ongoing case against Manila and Quenga, who are accused of helping Blue House owner Song Ja Cha force women into prostitution at the Blue House lounge.
K.C. told the court through a translator that three police officers visited the lounge while she worked there as one of the lounge’s prostitutes.
She said all three officers went into the lounge’s VIP rooms at some point, though she never saw them drink.
Another worker testified Wednesday that she did see the officers drink while in uniform.
K.C. said she only knew the names of two officers: “Tony” and “Mario.” She identified Quenga as “Tony” yesterday in court, but said Mario wasn’t present.
She said she didn’t know the name of the third officer, but was able to identify him as Manila.
K.C. said she never spoke to any of the officers and none of the officers spoke to her.
Prosecutors have argued in the past that the officers personally threatened to have the women arrested if they ever tried to escape Blue House.
K.C. also testified that she was never paid for working at the Blue House, except for the occasional $20 to go shopping.
Sylvia Stake, who represents Quenga, confronted the woman about that statement, noting evidence that K.C.’s name is on a Western Union receipt, which she argues it suggests that the woman sent money to her family in Chuuk.
Terry Timblin, who represents Manila, noted that K.C. had received money following the federal trial that convicted Cha.
At the time, K.C. said she wasn’t sure how much money she received, but said later that it totaled about $37,000, all of which she gave to her mother.
Timblin asked her if she believed she would be paid following this trial.
“I dunno,” said K.C.
Allegations of abuse
K.C. also testified about alleged abuses at the Blue House, saying she was both beaten and dragged over broken glass by Cha and a supervisor after K.C. walked into a VIP room with the supervisor and a customer inside.
She also said she was forced to have an abortion after she got pregnant at the lounge.
“Did you want to have that baby?” asked Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Quan.
“Yes,” said K.C.
Manila and Quenga are charged with several crimes such as kidnapping and prostitution-related crimes. They also are charged with sex crimes.
The trial continues today. Another Blue House worker is expected to testify. After her, the prosecution plans to call Freda Eseun, a brothel supervisor, to the stand.
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