The son and the driver of the mayor of the southern town of Comrat have been detained for pandering and sex tourism. The men aged 24 and 30 are reportedly members of a criminal gang.

According to the police, the suspects posted ads on the internet offering erotic massage and sexual services. They had recruited several young women and used to sell them to clients for $50 an hour.

Six woman aged 20-25 have been identified as being compelled to provide sexual services.

The men are suspected of complicity in a case in which the leader of the gang offered two women to provide sexual services to a Turkish delegation.

The gang head is a 46-year-old woman from the Transnistrian region. There are four accomplices aged 25-40.

If the gang if proven guilty, its members may stay in jail up to 7 years.

The Comrat mayor Serghei Anastasov is a member of Renato Usatii's 'Partidul Nostru' party.