A 30-year-old woman from Phetchabun province has been sentenced to seven years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to taking her 12-year-old daughter to Japan for prostitution. The Criminal Court in Bangkok delivered the ruling on 29 June, reducing the original 15-year term by half due to her confession. The defendant was convicted on charges of human trafficking conspiracy and facilitating the prostitution of another person.
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The court heard that the mother claimed she was taking her daughter on a holiday trip, but instead arranged for the child to work in a massage parlour offering sexual services in Tokyo. The defendant later travelled to Taiwan to engage in prostitution herself, where she was arrested. Meanwhile, the victim, now aged 13, managed to escape and sought assistance from the Tokyo Immigration Police, and is now under the care of the Paweena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women.
Picture courtesy of ThaiRath
The defendant had no prior criminal record, but a background investigation revealed she had previously worked in massage parlours abroad. These trips typically lasted 14 to 19 days and earned her between 50,000 and 80,000 baht per visit. The court found that her actions violated multiple laws, including the Criminal Code, the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, and the Child Protection Act.
Manger Online reported that during the hearing, the defendant was visibly distressed and broke down in tears. Her parents, her seven-year-old daughter, her youngest son, and other relatives attended the courtroom to offer support.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now MGRonline 30 June 2026
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