China hands death sentence for child prostitution

BEIJING (Reuters) - A court in southern China sentenced a couple to death for forcing primary and high school children into prostitution, state media reported on Tuesday.

Both former teachers, they forced 23 girls including six under age 14 into prostitution between March and June 2006, Xinhua News Agency reported.

The couple, identified as Zhao Qingmei and her husband Chi Yao of Xinfa in the southern province of Guizhou, were arrested in August after police offered a reward for information that led to their detention.

Another couple involved in the case were sentenced to 11 and 13 years in prison each, Xinhua said.