Chuwit cleared of sex service charges

BANGKOK: -- Massage parlour tycoon Chuwit Kamolwisit, who plans to run for the post of Bangkok governor, was yesterday acquitted by the Criminal Court of involvement in providing three underage girls as prostitutes in one of his establishments.

The Criminal Court ruled that Chuwit and his Therme Ltd partnership, operators of Honolulu Massage Parlour, could not be held responsible for the sex services provided by the three girls at the parlour.

Chuwit was taken to court after the three girls sought help from the foundation of Pavena Hongsakul, another Bangkok governor hopeful, saying they were forced by a man called Somchai to provide sex services at Honolulu Massage Parlour.

Therme became the first defendant and Chuwit second defendant, charged with providing sex services using people older than 15 years old, but younger than 18.

The court ruled that Somchai and three other accomplices, not Chuwit and the firm, should be instead held responsible for the crime.

The court reasoned that the three girls had testified that Somchai was the one who gave them false identification cards to deceive Therme management that they were over 18 years of age.

The court ruled that state witnesses had failed to prove that Chuwit and Therme had knowledge that the three ID cards were fake.

The court also noted that the three girls had worked at Juliana Massage Parlour for six months before applying to work at the Honolulu for two weeks before filing complaints with police against Chuwit and Therme.

The court said it did not make sense for the three to file complaints against Chuwit without also filing complaints against the Juliana during the period they worked there.

The court noted that the three girls also testified that Honolulu prohibited its masseuses from having sex with customers, so it did not make sense for them to allege that Chuwit and Therme had forced them into prostitution.

Chuwit left the courtroom smiling and flashing a victory sign. Apparently referring to Pavena, Chuwit said the person who encouraged the girls to file the complaint against him would face consequences because of her deed.

“Karma will yield karma,” he said.

He said he had forgiven the three girls and he had started selling off his massage parlours in order to turn over a new leaf.

But Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanchana said Chuwit was not off the hook yet, as the state would pursue the case in the Appeals and Supreme courts.

--The Nation 2004-06-16

Didnt Chuwit have something to do with trashing those bars in Asok last year?

Demolished the Soi 10 bar beer area in the middle of the nite.

Not sure if he was involved or the leaseholder?....

I hear that he plans to build a hotel on the site.