Nong Khai bar owner charged with trafficking underage Laotians

[webfact]

Picture: Naew Na

 

Immigration Bureau chief Lt-Gen Sompong Chingduang and his deputies gave details of a human trafficking bust, Naew Na reported yesterday.

 

Immigration in Nong Khai in Thailand's north east had learned that underage girls were available at a karaoke lounge in Phon Phisai district.

 

The lounge had all the lights out but inside girls were being offered for sex as customers enjoyed food and drinks. 

 

A sting was set up and a secret operative went in. Meanwhile another immigration team was located at a nearby resort used for customers to sleep with the women.

 

Girls were being offered for sale at 1,500 - 2,000 baht and the karaoke owner would keep 300 baht of that. 

 

Soon the secret operative had struck a deal with Dao, aged just 15.

 

Picture: Naew Na

 

When she was taken to the resort the bust was made resulting in the arrest of the karaoke owner Songkran, 49, who was charged with six offences including human trafficking of underage girls aged 15 and not yet 18. 

 

Three Laotian women were also taken into custody on charges of illegal entry into Thailand and working without a work permit. 

 

Dao said that she had sneaked across the border with her elder sister and had been working at the lounge since about March offering herself for 1,500 baht and giving Songkran 300 each time. 

 

In standard rhetoric, Naew Na quoted immigration officials saying that this was all part of Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha and his deputy Prawit Wongsuwon and RTP chief Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk to keep Thailand safe, notes ASEAN Now. 

 

They asked the public to call 1178 to report wrongdoing or go to www.immigration.go.th.

 

-- © Copyright ASEAN NOW 2021-07-06

[natway09]

It is the oldest business model in the world

[Bangkok Barry]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

used for customers to sleep with the women.

 

Strange that, all over the world, people use that term when they actually mean something entirely different. Bizarre.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Girls were being offered for sale at 1,500 - 2,000 baht and the karaoke owner would keep 300 baht of that. 

 

No they weren't for sale. They were rented out.

[hotchilli]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

In standard rhetoric, Naew Na quoted immigration officials saying that this was all part of Thai PM Prayuth Chan-ocha and his deputy Prawit Wongsuwon and RTP chief Gen Suwat Chaengyodsuk to keep Thailand safe, notes ASEAN Now. 

Tip of an iceberg.... a very large one.

[Sydebolle]

...... no work permit? Work permit as what? 

Most likely, except the Lao girl trafficked for money, everyone else was Thai?  

[toofarnorth]

I see the sick but I don't see the point.

[Thechook]

Just curious, how can the Laotian girls be charged with working without a Permit?  Prostitution is illegal and not a recognised trade so they can't be taking legitimate work from Thais 

[ezzra]

13 minutes ago, Thechook said:

Just curious, how can the Laotian girls be charged with working without a Permit?  Prostitution is illegal and not a recognized trade so they can't be taking legitimate work from Thais 

Presumably they were charged as lounge bar workers and not as prostitutes which is hard to prove as the sexual act did not take place...

[JohnOFphon]

Only busted because ..karaoke owner Songkran, 49...was cutting in on the local BIB;s action.

[Taboo2]

Evil Incarnate

[BritManToo]

11 minutes ago, Taboo2 said:

Evil Incarnate

I think that's going a little bit far.

He wasn't even overcharging!