The Amsterdam premises of the former Yab Yum brothel have been impounded by the Dutch public prosecution service. The move aims to prevent the sale of the buildings, which include the former luxury brothel on the capital’s Singel canal, a UNESCO world heritage site.

Yab Yum was closed down in January 2008 by Amsterdam city council in a clampdown on sex-industry crime in the capital. It had allegedly been taken over by a chapter of the Hell's Angels. A member of the motorcycle club with a criminal record was running the brothel, while someone else's name was on the deeds.

The city council believed he was just a front man and used special legislation known as the Bibob law to close the brothel. Under Bibob legislation, the council has the right to withdraw or refuse business licences to anyone it thinks is involved in crime or money laundering.

The authorities are investigating the earlier sale of the Yab Yum premises and the present owner of the buildings is suspected of money laundering. The premises have been on the market since early this year.

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide