Police in Pattaya have arrested two Indian men accused of trafficking three Indian women and forcing them into prostitution along Pattaya Beach, Chon Buri. The suspects allegedly blackmailed the women with explicit photographs and deprived them of food and water if they refused to comply. Both men deny the charges.
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On 28 February 2026, Pol Col Anek Sarathongyu, superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, and Pol Lt Col Arut Sapanon, deputy superintendent of investigations, led officers to arrest the suspects at a room in Pattaya. Police seized three mobile phones, a tablet and a laptop computer as evidence. The suspects were identified as Mr Brahmananda, 25, and Mr Justin, 32, both Indian nationals.
The case stems from a complaint filed on 18 February by three Indian women with Pol Lt Kriengkrai Kaewphiphop, deputy inspector (investigation). The women told police they had been contacted via Instagram and offered restaurant jobs in Thailand, with high pay and travel expenses covered. Upon arrival in Pattaya, they were allegedly asked for additional payments, had their passports confiscated and were cut off from outside contact.
The victims stated they were confined to a room and prevented from contacting anyone. They were then allegedly forced to stand for prostitution daily along Pattaya Beach. If they refused, they were threatened, deprived of food, and photographed in compromising positions to be used for blackmail, with threats to send the images to their families or harm relatives if they attempted to escape.
The women eventually managed to escape by asking for their passports under the pretext of booking a hotel room with a client. They fled and sought help at an Indian restaurant in the area before filing a police report.
Investigators coordinated with the Chon Buri Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office to assess the victims. Authorities determined the case met the criteria for human trafficking, under Thai law and placed the women under legal protection.
Police say they gathered witness testimony and physical evidence linking the suspects to the offences. The charges include joint human trafficking, unlawful detention, coercion, criminal intimidation, destruction or seizure of another person’s documents, procuring for prostitution and importing false computer data likely to cause public harm.
The suspects have denied all allegations, claiming they were merely customers. Police stated that both testimonial and material evidence clearly connects the men to the offences and that legal proceedings will continue. Investigators are expected to proceed with prosecution while ensuring ongoing protection and support for the victims under Thai law.
Picture courtesy of เช็กข่าวพัทยา
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Adapted by ASEAN Now เช็กข่าวพัทยา 1 Mar 2026
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