Associated Press

Brothel profits built an empire

ANKARA — Matild Manokyan, Turkey's best-known madam whose 32 brothels made her Istanbul's top taxpayer for several years running, has died at age 84, her family said.

Manokyan, who survived a bomb attack in 1995, died in her sleep Friday afternoon at her home in Istanbul.

Manokyan started out as a seamstress before entering the prostitution business, which is legal in Turkey. She used profits from her brothels to finance a real-estate empire.

— AP