File photo / NZ Herald
A brothel owner was warned that her house would be burned down and she would be involved in a traffic crash if she did not pay money for "protection'', a court has been told.
Lei Man Zheng and Chen Chen are accused of blackmailing massage parlour and brothel owners into handing over money.
The pair have pleaded not guilty in the High Court at Auckland and have said they were operating a painting, renovating and security business.
But Crown prosecutor Gareth Kayes said in his closing address today that Zheng went to five different massage parlours demanding money and was joined by Chen at two of them.
He said threats were made at all five Auckland establishments at night time in late 2010, despite the parlours being open in the day.
"Mr Zheng used threats to get women to give him money.''
Mr Kayes said there were no receipts handed over for the money and the two men did not have business cards or promotional material.
Mr Kayes said that at one of the massage parlours, Zheng was asked what would happen if money was not handed over.
His reply was: "If you don't pay the money then we're going to bring the petrol over and burn your house down.''
When the woman responded that her business was not running well and she might be relieved, Zheng responded: "I am going to cause a traffic accident''.
Another massage parlour owner was so frightened that she removed her jewellery because she thought she was going to be robbed.
"Her evidence was that these men would hurt her employees and they would beat themup.''
Mr Kayes said the woman kept her staff at the massage parlour for two days because she was scared of what would happen when they left.
He said Zheng threatened to bring 30 polynesian men and prevent the business owner from running the massage parlour.
He said Chen joined Zheng at two other massage parlours where Zheng asked for money.
"The Crown says Mr Chen helped and assisted Mr Zheng by adding to the numbers of the group and intimidating, and by interpreting.''
Zheng's lawyer Hugh Leabourn told the court that the Crown's case lacked logic because his client used polite language and did not do anything violent.
"What is described to police is what I would describe as a rather clumsy, amateurish or ham-fisted proposal.''
He said Zheng and Chen were young Chinese men trying to float a legitimate business that included cleaning and maintenance.
Mr Leabourn said the case according to the Crown resembled something out of the movies.
He said the brothel owners had misunderstood what his client was offering but there were no threats made.
Mr Leabourn told the jurors that there was no violence, no weapons and no damage to property. "Nothing, not a sausage.''
Justice Helen Winkelmann will sum up the case to the jurors before they retire to consider their verdicts tomorrow.