monkeycountry

Well, kidnappers, murderers and rapists usually do not bother going to the victims house to move all the victims stuff, so odds are she left voluntarily.

As I have said before, stay far away from entertainment venues frequented by Thai men. Most of them are nice unarmed guys of course, but there is always a few who feel the need to bring a gun, get drunk/high, and shot at whoever makes them lose face first. Even if you are not personally involved, you can still end up as collateral damage.
Very few foreigners or Thai women own guns, and the few that do very rarely bring them when they go out. Many Thai men on the other hand have guns, and they often bring them when going out, either in order to settle a preexisting dispute, but more often simply in order to make sure they do not lose face no matter what the consequences are.

As the Thai guy who shot and killed his wife's lover just a few days ago said: "A true man can be killed, but he cannot be insulted". I am pretty sure most gun carrying Thai men think exactly like that!

Just to be clear, I have nothing against Thai men, just the few carrying guns. Unfortunately I cannot tell them apart until it is too late.

Translation: Either you (Yingluck) keep giving us all the tax payers' money or we will find someone else who will!

Join the club. Perhaps, after a long and costly series of exercises (maybe a few trips here and there in the region and the world), a few minor officials will be put on trial, and lots of reports will be written, but not much will change. In reality I do not believe that Thailand is any more or less corrupt than any other country. It is just in the west that the corruption is better hidden and overlooked. Good luck guys, and remember to duck just in case you do accidentally uncover real corruption of any truly important.

For Thailand to be more corrupt than other nations, would mean that the human's here are less likely to be opportunists. It is simply not the case and I agree with Ianatlarge.

Corruption in Australia is better hidden. For lower end officials, it has become more difficult, but at the top end it is business as usual for a country run by lawyers. Lets not define lawyers further.

Every now and then a tip of the iceberg gets exposed. There is a satisfactory hue and cry in the media and the iceberg floats on quietly. More quietly than before. People learn from example, how to communicate secretly more effectively. How "not" to reveal intentions in emails and sms and on pillow talk.

These anti corruption commissioners, should each be equipped with at least two forensic accountants that can trace the money trails effectively and they should then be bound by some sort of results clause, evaluated yearly.

Having worked in a lot of different countries, I can say Thailand is no different than most. Let's look at the UK where most of the MPs were scamming expenses. The Thai government does take care of their people all be it not like other western countries where they seem to take care of others before their own - Thai people has always had to take care of themselves and will always consider if I can take it and get away with it then I will.

Yes, scamming expenses and stealing a few hundred billion through large scale corruption is the same - no difference at all

The countries in the world with the highest crime solving rates do no use this method, so obviously it is not necessary. Could it be that the Thai police don't know or master any other techniques in order to solve a crime, so they opt for the easiest one (let the criminal do it one more time, while the police watch, so it looks like everyone is working hard, and can get promoted).

"Ms Supa said she had asked the Commerce Ministry for the figure of rice sales but was told that it was confidential.
...
We could not pursue our accounting to close entries and we do not know to whom the 10 million tonnes of rice were sold."

Are these "special" accounting/auditing rules reserved for the government, or can private companies follow them as well?

Obviously most, if not all, companies would love to mark some of their heavier entries (especially sales figures) as confidential and leave them out of their balance sheets!

Looks like someone forgot to "grease the gear" in one of the corruptest and messed-up countries of SEA (not sayin that Thailand is very far off)... My guess is that some "official" liked the business idea and most likely he's running it now all by himself.

Don't really see where there is human trafficking involved and don't believe that any of the "office" girls were doing it against her will or kept as prisoner. Hope the guys get a good lawyer and a fair trial.

Sure there will be some do-gooders and perhaps some feminists logging in now to - in general - bash prostitution, porn and online "services" as oh so bad... I - on the other hand - would like to know how many rapes are prevented daily by offering a "valve" for some lone guys out there who might do something really stupid if such services were'nt offered. Ever thought about that?

Or another way to look at it is

I - on the other hand - would like to know how many rapes are caused daily by offering an "erotic stimulation" for some lone guys out there who might do something really stupid if such services are offered to set him off. Ever thought about that?

I don't have a lot of sympathy.

A couple of sexpats living off immoral earnings in a corrupt third world country.

I am not of the view that the services are necessarily bad in terms of the relationship between the girl and the viewer(s).

But when you stick a couple of pimps in the middle. Guys who are effectively taking advantage of the fact there's a lot of uneducated girls with very low earnings potential and making money off their sexual services - well - I'm all for very stiff sentences.

No different from all those guys in Pattaya getting a bar girl girlfriend, letting her prostitute herself out to westerners and living off the money. They are frowned upon by Thai sexpats but I have a feeling they will be a lot more forgiving of these two.

Are you insane?

"Immoral earnings"?

Don't get lost on your way to the temple buddy.

No--not the same as anything you described. They took hookers who were at risk of disease and who were selling their actual bodies, and gave them jobs sitting in front of a computer screen. Not a bad gig for a prostitute.

If kids under ten are watching it would you consider it Moral?

Don't sell kids short. They know there way around the cyber world and have friends who can provide them with credit cards.

What makes you think they are physical hookers?

Can you cut and paste that part I am not getting it on my screen.

My screen is a HP maybe that is why what kind of screen do you have.

"

bonobo, on 01 Jul 2013 - 16:44, said:

I was in the Philippines when they were arrested. The papers were trumpeting this blow against "trafficking."

They did interviewed on of the "rescued" girls. She was upset that she would now have to go back to be a prostitute to feed her kids. In the cam house that was set up, she worked regular hours, had a clean place to work, did not have to worry about abusive customers, and did not have to worry about catching diseases."

@Hellodolly: Are you getting it on your screen now?

Do we, as foreigners, still think we are above the laws in the countries we visit? Whether or not these humans were liable under the law is irrelevant; one complaint, upheld clearly by the courts, has convicted them.

Yet again I must re-iterate: if you do not like the laws of a country, do not do anything which could lead to being convicted of breaking such a law, or simply stay away.

Operating a brothel, online or otherwise, should surely indicate that a disgruntled member of 'staff' might make claim against the owners. Were these gormless fools too stupid to see that?

They were convicted for making a woman pose in front of a camera against her will. Since posing in front of a camera in itself is not illegal, we can deduce that it is the "against her will" part that made the difference. In other words, this is not limited to brothels. Since there seems to be no evidence of her being forced, except for her word, anyone having a female (or male) visitor could potentially risk her going to the police when she leaves claiming you held her or made her do something against her will, and thereby send you to prison for life!

You could of course ask why any woman would do that? Extortion would be a good motive, revenge another!

It's possible,, but I think they were convicted as "trafficers" Powerfull laws in most countries by International agreement.

Perhaps, but how much sense does that make if the girls have never even left the Phillipines? :-)

Do we, as foreigners, still think we are above the laws in the countries we visit? Whether or not these humans were liable under the law is irrelevant; one complaint, upheld clearly by the courts, has convicted them.

Yet again I must re-iterate: if you do not like the laws of a country, do not do anything which could lead to being convicted of breaking such a law, or simply stay away.

Operating a brothel, online or otherwise, should surely indicate that a disgruntled member of 'staff' might make claim against the owners. Were these gormless fools too stupid to see that?

They were convicted for making a woman pose in front of a camera against her will. Since posing in front of a camera in itself is not illegal, we can deduce that it is the "against her will" part that made the difference. In other words, this is not limited to brothels. Since there seems to be no evidence of her being forced, except for her word, anyone having a female (or male) visitor could potentially risk her going to the police when she leaves claiming you held her or made her do something against her will, and thereby send you to prison for life!

You could of course ask why any woman would do that? Extortion would be a good motive, revenge another!

Just out of curiosity, if someone can get convicted and get life in prison in the Phillipines because 1 woman says she was held against her will, supposedly with no evidence except for her word (no mention of any other evidence in the article), then what prevents anyones girlfriend/date from doing the same when she visits ones house, hotel or apartment? Ie. What would you prefer darling, to give me a ton of cash now or life in prison?

I don't have a lot of sympathy.

A couple of sexpats living off immoral earnings in a corrupt third world country.

I am not of the view that the services are necessarily bad in terms of the relationship between the girl and the viewer(s).

But when you stick a couple of pimps in the middle. Guys who are effectively taking advantage of the fact there's a lot of uneducated girls with very low earnings potential and making money off their sexual services - well - I'm all for very stiff sentences.

No different from all those guys in Pattaya getting a bar girl girlfriend, letting her prostitute herself out to westerners and living off the money. They are frowned upon by Thai sexpats but I have a feeling they will be a lot more forgiving of these two.

So basically you see no problem convicting a thief for murder, seeing that both acts are illegal?

If you consider them pimps, which I suppose I more or less agree with, then charge them with pimping, which has nothing to do with human trafficing and/or slavery - the main difference being the "voluntary" part.

Hahaha, be honest, how many of you would not be staring at this guys hands and shoes the whole flight if sitting next to him? :-D

I believe Thailand should allow free basic and emergency health care to all people in government hospitals. (foreigner or Thai)

Most foreigners prefer to use private hospitals with English speaking staff.

I can't see many foreigners using a Thai government hospital, waiting and queuing with the general Thai population.

The extra expense to the country would be negligible, the positive publicity for the country would be invaluable.

Health care in Thailand is very cheap.

(If you avoid the foreigner scamming private hospitals that abound)

@Pacificperson

Private health care for Thai nationals (and foreigners employed with WP in Thailand) is a maximum 500bht/month, as a foreigner can you tell me why you think you should be charged more?

Assuming you are referring to "bakan sangkom" which is the mandatory insurance for thais and foreigners employed in private companies, it is not private. It is a public health insurance similar to the one enjoyed by government employees and the 30 baht scheme, although the 3 have different levels of benefits.

The cost of this insurance is currently 4% of your salary, but with a max of 15,000 baht/month salary, so maximum 4% of 15,000 = 600 baht. A similar amount is paid by the employer. This insurance does not cover on most private hospitals, but mainly on public hospitals.

Once you have left employment you may continue to pay your existing contribution and claim benefits forever.

Clearly the scheme isn't a huge loss maker, so again tell me why you think anyone should be charged more?

I am not sure if your last post was directed at me? I simply explained how the insurance worked and that it is not a private insurance, as you previously stated, and generally does not cover private hospitals. I have no opinion on whether anyone should be charged more.

I believe Thailand should allow free basic and emergency health care to all people in government hospitals. (foreigner or Thai)

Most foreigners prefer to use private hospitals with English speaking staff.

I can't see many foreigners using a Thai government hospital, waiting and queuing with the general Thai population.

The extra expense to the country would be negligible, the positive publicity for the country would be invaluable.

Health care in Thailand is very cheap.

(If you avoid the foreigner scamming private hospitals that abound)

@Pacificperson

Private health care for Thai nationals (and foreigners employed with WP in Thailand) is a maximum 500bht/month, as a foreigner can you tell me why you think you should be charged more?

Assuming you are referring to "bakan sangkom" which is the mandatory insurance for thais and foreigners employed in private companies, it is not private. It is a public health insurance similar to the one enjoyed by government employees and the 30 baht scheme, although the 3 have different levels of benefits.

The cost of this insurance is currently 4% of your salary, but with a max of 15,000 baht/month salary, so maximum 4% of 15,000 = 600 baht. A similar amount is paid by the employer. This insurance does not cover on most private hospitals, but mainly on public hospitals.

Based on the article alone I see no reason to ridicule his effort. Unlike most of his colleagues he seems to be actually trying!

Having sex with a minor under the age of 15 is a criminal act.

However, if it is not the girls father who knocked her up, the guy who did it will usually be given the chance to marry the girl and cash out the family and he'll avoid jail. That's how they do it here for Thai on Thai sex crimes.

I agree with you, but since this marriage will be a "village marriage" and not a registered marrriage (which i suppose is illegal at age 10), is it not possible for her own father to marry her? Just curious?

Found the answer to my own question on wikipedia.

"Wanwisa Janmuk, legally married at 8, gave birth to a girl when she was 9 at a hospital in Phetchabun" (from 2001)

Having sex with a minor under the age of 15 is a criminal act.

However, if it is not the girls father who knocked her up, the guy who did it will usually be given the chance to marry the girl and cash out the family and he'll avoid jail. That's how they do it here for Thai on Thai sex crimes.

I agree with you, but since this marriage will be a "village marriage" and not a registered marrriage (which i suppose is illegal at age 10), is it not possible for her own father to marry her? Just curious?

making her one of the youngest mothers in the country.

Please don't tell me there is a younger one somewhere?

There have been many. The youngest was 5. She conceived at 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_youngest_birth_mothers

Reading that however, that was in 1939. It would appear that this is one of the youngest births in the last few years.

Where is Yingluck with her women's rights?

She is currently taking serious steps to find and arrest whoever leaked this story to the media for damaging Thailands reputation.

Unless her parents make a complaint, no investigation will be made.

Are you suggesting statutory rape and being a pedophile are not criminal acts? I am sure they are and therefore the BIB should not require any complaint from anyone to investigate and subsequently charge the offender.

Unfortunately that is just not how it works in Thailand. The police rarely investigate crimes if no complaint has been made.

Notice that the goal here is not to eliminate human trafficking, but to be removed from the watch list in order to save face :-)

Hahaha only in Thailand can one admit to a crime and at the same time sue for defamation when someone reveals the crime to the public :-)