A Tema Community tribunal on Monday sentenced 18 women to a fine of ?50,000 or in default 30 days in prison for prostitution.

Apart from two of them who pleaded not guilty, the others pleaded guilty with one having an explanation for her involvement in the practice.

A 'friend of the court pleaded with the court to deal leniently with the accused persons stressing that under section 276, of act 29/60 the women must have been found to be "persistently" soliciting for men for immoral purposes.

He said that a one-night swoop by the police could, therefore, not suit the context of that section 276.

He also questioned why the police arrested only women while there were men who patronised their services.

The tribunal chairman, Captain Philip Agbeyome (rtd) advised the women to stay indoors at night for their own safety and find some meaningful ways of generating money rather than through "the sale of your bodies".

The women apparently amused at the sentence just counted monies to pay off their fines while raining insults on the female journalists who were in court.