Eight get lengthy prison terms over Mae Hong Son prostitution racket

By The Nation

 

 

The Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court on Wednesday found eight defendants guilty of human trafficking, underage prostitution and other charges linked to the “owl tattoo” prostitution racket in Mae Hong Son and sentenced them to imprisonments ranging from eight to 320 years.

 

Three procurers received over 100 years behind bars – first defendant Piyawan Sukmak, 27, got a 167-year jail term, second defendant Piyathas Parpthiensuwan, 31, got a 176-year jail term and third defendant former cop Pol Senior Sgt-Major Yutthachai Thongchat, 43, got a 320-year jail term. 

 

The three, however, would serve only 50 years behind bars each as the law limits maximum penalty in criminal cases to 50 years in prison.

 

The fourth defendant Mongkol Kiatpakdipong, 31, was given 19 years, the fifth defendant Pattamaporn In-kaew, 32, got 12 years, the sixth defendant Kanokwan Rattanapakdi, 23, got eight years, the seventh defendant Kwanhathai Reuk-Udom, 40, got 32 years and the eighth defendant Kalaya Wutthikhun, 41, got 36 years.

 

The eight convicts later sought release on bail pending their appeal to the upper court. During the trial, three of the suspects – Piyawan, Piyathas and Yutthachai – were denied bail and were detained at remand facilities, while the others got bail.

 

Yutthachai had worked at the Nam Piang Din Police Station until the scandal broke last year, following which he was sacked along with eight other cops who were put under serious disciplinary investigation after being implicated as customers of underage prostitution services. 

 

The case came to light because the 43-year-old mother of one of the teenage victims filed a police complaint. She remained persistent even when there was a lack of progress in the investigations for six months. She then exposed the prostitution racket to the media. 

 

Many state officials were subsequently implicated for buying sex services from the racket’s girls, many of whom reportedly had owl identification tattoos on the chest. 

 

Provincial Governor Suebsak Iamvijarn, who was transferred to an inactive post in Bangkok pending a probe result into the allegation, was later reinstated after he was cleared of any wrongdoing. According to police, one of five Nonthaburi politicians who allegedly bought sex from the girls had drunkenly claimed to be Suebsak.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30343420

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-4-18

5 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

The three, however, would serve only 50 years behind bars each as the law limits maximum penalty in criminal cases to 50 years in prison.

Would it not be easier to give them 50 years, with NO CHANCE of parole ?

I don't really see the point in handing someone a 320 year sentence, if the maximum by law is 50. 

"The eight convicts later sought release on bail pending their appeal,"

they will already have there running shoes ready,if they get bail.

regards worgeordie

Finally, some sentences that mean something. Hopefully will be seen as a deterrent. 

Will wait and see what the appellate judges decide. 

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

 

Many state officials were subsequently implicated for buying sex services from the racket’s girls,

Okay, they got the pimps.....What about the state officials buying sex from underage prostitutes? A wai and a 500 baht fine.....

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

The Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court on Wednesday found eight defendants guilty of human trafficking, underage prostitution and other charges linked to the “owl tattoo” prostitution racket in Mae Hong Son and sentenced them to imprisonments ranging from eight to 320 years.

Good.

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

The case came to light because the 43-year-old mother of one of the teenage victims filed a police complaint. She remained persistent even when there was a lack of progress in the investigations for six months. She then exposed the prostitution racket to the media. 

Well done to this brave mother.....Normally Thai's will just back down, especially if the suspects are police/state officials.

Power to you Mum....!!

Seems like mostly lower level people got thrown to the wolves.

What about the real masterminds?

And what ever happened to the girls?

Sent from my LDN-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

so yada yada yada... they are out soon..

Murderers get less than that. One man rapes and out in 10 years. 

Another man pimps a prostitute and gets 320 years. 

Another man embezzles 3 million baht and gets 100 years. 

Sometimes, I just don't understand the justice system, in any country. 

40 minutes ago, 4evermaat said:

Seems like mostly lower level people got thrown to the wolves.

What about the real masterminds?

And what ever happened to the girls?

Sent from my LDN-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

The girls are most likely down at the local bar selling their wares. 

tattoo an owl on each of their disgusting faces....som nam nha

Suebsak?

Owl is now a very heavy bird.

Under what age?

So the Provincial Governor doesn't even get a slap on the wrist? He was having sex with underage girls and he's still the provincial governor. Thailand's justice system.

1 hour ago, stephen tracy said:

So the Provincial Governor doesn't even get a slap on the wrist? He was having sex with underage girls and he's still the provincial governor. Thailand's justice system.

According to the report someone else was using his name. That story is plausible, but I think we can be excused for being a little cynical.

Just now, chickenslegs said:

According to the report someone else was using his name. That story is plausible, but I think we can be excused for being a little cynical.

You're right, it's possible but hard to believe. It's better excuse than Dumbo gave over his watch collection, I'll give him that much.

7 hours ago, greenchair said:

The girls are most likely down at the local bar selling their wares. 

Yeah there is always one scumbag in these types of thread and you just won the trophy

10 hours ago, Thaiwrath said:

Would it not be easier to give them 50 years, with NO CHANCE of parole ?

I don't really see the point in handing someone a 320 year sentence, if the maximum by law is 50. 

looks  good  mista

Hard to tell what they will end up with after they go through the whole process. this makes great headlines though. I know a fellow who is a Police Inspector in Chiang Mai and he is the real deal, a no nonsense guy who is dedicated to doing the right thing

6 hours ago, fredaroony said:

Yeah there is always one scumbag in these types of thread and you just won the trophy

Why ? How do you think those girls got in that situation? Their own parents groom them and sell them. Do you think their parents will change their greedy ways. 

It's the same as the illegal immigrants claiming they were forced to work. Not 2 weeks after being rescued, they are back working for another evil boss. 

Give me a break will ya. 

They are not as innocent as you make out.

Wake up noddy. 

17 minutes ago, greenchair said:

Why ? How do you think those girls got in that situation? Their own parents groom them and sell them. Do you think their parents will change their greedy ways. 

It's the same as the illegal immigrants claiming they were forced to work. Not 2 weeks after being rescued, they are back working for another evil boss. 

Give me a break will ya. 

They are not as innocent as you make out.

Wake up noddy. 

It was a parent of one of the girls that exposed the whole thing and caused the investigation to happen.

It's not only underage hookers that are being trafficked. I talked to a Burmese woman in Chiang Mai who was well past thirty and said that traffickers had tried to recruit her and threatened to report her to Immigration. She had a work permit, so she was not afraid of them.

1 hour ago, nahkit said:

It was a parent of one of the girls that exposed the whole thing and caused the investigation to happen.

That girl was a hooker for more than 6 months, or even longer. 

The girl was going home everyday with pockets full of money. I'm not believing the mother didn't know well about it. 

Would not surprise me if she had certain financial  demands that were not met. And sour grapes. 

I seriously doubt this girl or any of the others have gone back to a nice country girl life on the farm. 

Get real. 

A flame has been removed

17 hours ago, JOC said:

Okay, they got the pimps.....What about the state officials buying sex from underage prostitutes? A wai and a 500 baht fine.....

A small fraction of the girls were underage. We don't yet know who bought what from who. Likely awaiting trial?

50 minutes ago, greenchair said:

That girl was a hooker for more than 6 months, or even longer. 

The girl was going home everyday with pockets full of money. I'm not believing the mother didn't know well about it. 

Would not surprise me if she had certain financial  demands that were not met. And sour grapes. 

I seriously doubt this girl or any of the others have gone back to a nice country girl life on the farm. 

Get real. 

If it was purely financial them I'm sure they would of paid the mother off rather than take a life sentence.

 

 

6 hours ago, nahkit said:

If it was purely financial them I'm sure they would of paid the mother off rather than take a life sentence.

 

 

I don't think the mother is telling the whole story.