Tokyo, Aug. 7 (Jiji Press)--Japanese prosecutors have sought a six-year prison sentence and a fine of 2 million yen for a former operator of a Tokyo massage parlor accused of having a Thai girl, then 12, provide sexual services. The defense claimed the innocence of Masayuki Hosono, 52. Tokyo District Court is set to hand down a ruling on Sept. 15. During Thursday's hearing, prosecutors argued that Hosono, who faces charges including child welfare law violation, could have easily verified the girl's age by checking her passport although he was told by her mother that the girl was her 20-year-old sister. "Sexual exploitation cannot be eradicated as long as people like the defendant continue to create an environment to have children work," they added, denouncing Hosono's act. According to the indictment, Hosono allegedly forced the girl to do sexual acts to male customers and himself between June and August last year, without confirming her age. In its closing statement, the defense said that the defendant is not responsible, claiming that the recruitment interview and age confirmation had been entrusted to a 39-year-old Thai woman, who is a former manager of the shop in Bunkyo Ward in the Japanese capital. The woman has been indicted for the same charges. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office also considered the possibility of indicting Hosono for human trafficking, suspecting him of purchasing the girl from her mother. But the prosecution gave this up, concluding that it was difficult to prove that Hosono paid money to the girl's mother. Over the case, Thai prosecutors indicted the mother on charges including human trafficking, accusing her of leaving her daughter at the massage shop. In June this year, a court in Bangkok sentenced her to seven years and six months in prison. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]