Singaporean Man Arrested For Human Trafficking

[george]

Singaporean man arrested on human trafficking charges

Result of ongoing investigations in Thailand and abroad

PATTAYA: -- Armed with arrest warrants from the courts, local tourist and regional police raided the Derby Men’s Club to arrest a Singaporean national for his alleged involvement in trafficking women for prostitution.

Police stormed the premises in Jomtien at 8 p.m. on May 12, and detained Lui Bok Poh, 50, and Thai national Rungsant Deephant, 25, on charges on human trafficking. A search of the premises revealed 10 short-time rooms with two foreign men engaged in sexual activities with two Thai men in their 20s.

They were ordered downstairs for further questioning.

During the inspection police uncovered a large amount of evidence in the case against the business owners, including financial, staff and expense records as well as condoms and tubes of lubricating jelly and massage oil. All the items were confiscated.

Sixteen men, staff at the men’s club, were detained for engaging in prostitution.

The charges brought against Lui Bok Poh were the result of ongoing investigations in Thailand and abroad. Poh allegedly transported women to Singapore and Malaysia for prostitution and would often pay for their visas and air tickets. Minders in those countries would deduct the expenses as the women earned their way out of debt before returning to Thailand.

Police revealed that, in cooperation with international agencies, they have a long list of those involved in human trafficking and will eventually arrest them all, confiscating all their assets in the process.

Lui Bok Poh was arrested and charged with human trafficking offences, operating an illegal business offering sexual services, operating a business without appropriate licenses and working illegally in the kingdom.

Rungsant Deephant was also charged for his involvement in aiding and abetting Poh in his illegal activities and will face similar charges.

--Pattaya Mail 2004-05-22