THE Ranch, a Sandton brothel for the rich and famous, has been closed after a police raid two hours before it was set to open its doors for the first time in the new year, The Star newspaper reported. Police ejected staff and placed hired security guards at the entrance to prevent anyone from gaining access. The closure, undertaken in terms of a court order granted to the Asset Forfeiture Unit on December 22, follows the highly publicised seizure of the property of Andrew Phillips, the brothel owner, three days before Christmas. Phillips maintains his brothel has been targeted – instead of known child brothels – after he testified that members of the Aliens Investigation Unit were corrupt.