A 30-year-old woman from Phetchabun province has been sentenced to seven years and six months in prison after pleading guilty to taking her 12-year-old daughter to Japan for prostitution. The Criminal Court in Bangkok delivered the ruling on 29 June, reducing the original 15-year term by half due to her confession. The defendant was convicted on charges of human trafficking conspiracy and facilitating the prostitution of another person.

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The court heard that the mother claimed she was taking her daughter on a holiday trip, but instead arranged for the child to work in a massage parlour offering sexual services in Tokyo. The defendant later travelled to Taiwan to engage in prostitution herself, where she was arrested. Meanwhile, the victim, now aged 13, managed to escape and sought assistance from the Tokyo Immigration Police, and is now under the care of the Paweena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women.

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

The defendant had no prior criminal record, but a background investigation revealed she had previously worked in massage parlours abroad. These trips typically lasted 14 to 19 days and earned her between 50,000 and 80,000 baht per visit. The court found that her actions violated multiple laws, including the Criminal Code, the Anti-Human Trafficking Act, and the Child Protection Act.

Manger Online reported that during the hearing, the defendant was visibly distressed and broke down in tears. Her parents, her seven-year-old daughter, her youngest son, and other relatives attended the courtroom to offer support.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now MGRonline 30 June 2026

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Should have gone with the 15 years.

P.O.S.

12 years old, and it's the mother. WTF.

Human garbage trying to make her daughter the same. Happens more than one thinks here, along with parents sending their children off to sell their bodies to tourists so they'll get some of the proceeds. Filth that should never breed.No prior records can mean never caught, and working in massage parlors abroad usually means one thing.

The criminal justice system - what morality?

Who owned the massage parlour though ??

Was it set up by a Thai and why was the mother charged in Thailand if the crime was mostly committed in Japan.

I'm guessing they thought it was easier to charge her under trafficking rather than something less in Japan which would have let her off lightly.

Evil incarnate, but sadly, this happens everyday throughout the world, especially in countries where Islam is the major religion. And, do not get me started on the Vatican and their hands in the Pedo market.

The mother knows Japanese male fascination with school girl fantasies and so she thought she’d hit the jackpot. She should lose custody of her kids.

7 1/2 years seems not very much for such a crime. I get that she pleaded guilty, but still, it seems light imho.

1 minute ago, AustinRacing said:

The mother knows Japanese male fascination with school girl fantasies and so she thought she’d hit the jackpot. She should lose custody of her kids.

Well she will for the next 7 1/2 years.

And the daughter will just about be an adult at 20 years when she gets out.

It’s not reported in the article that the mother has other kids, hopefully not.

3 hours ago, rocketboy2 said:

Should have gone with the 15 years.

P.O.S.

12 years old, and it's the mother. WTF.

No , they shoud have doubled it to 30 years or better still death penalty.

49 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Well she will for the next 7 1/2 years.

And the daughter will just about be an adult at 20 years when she gets out.

It’s not reported in the article that the mother has other kids, hopefully not.

I think it says two other kids unless I’m reading it incorrectly.

17 minutes ago, AustinRacing said:

I think it says two other kids unless I’m reading it incorrectly.

You are correct- at least they will hopefully be safe from their evil mothers influence for the next 7 and a half years

And this is why emer see underaged girls working in Pattaya, Phuket, Kod Samui etc...using fake national IDs, and falsifying their name and age.

4 hours ago, rocketboy2 said:

Should have gone with the 15 years.

P.O.S.

12 years old, and it's the mother. WTF.

A lot more common than you think...in the Land Of Sleaze....money comes first.

2 hours ago, ronster said:

Who owned the massage parlour though ??

Was it set up by a Thai and why was the mother charged in Thailand if the crime was mostly committed in Japan.

I'm guessing they thought it was easier to charge her under trafficking rather than something less in Japan which would have let her off lightly.

Depends on who, and where, she was arrested and charged

The lure of easy money. Have a buddie of mine, carpenter, has skills but doing a 10 year stint because trafficking some drugs was an easier gain. Thai Mom here saw the easier gain. Let them off easy, send em home.

used to be common practice in Thailand , not sure how it is now. about 20 years ago I was on a bus with a mom pimping out her daughter. disgusting ..

Hopefully life in prison.

If mom was so keen to get a little earner why didn't she go to a tourist area and strut her stuff.

Being only 30 years old she probably would've picked up some bozo on her first night there.

5 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

I think it says two other kids unless I’m reading it incorrectly.

Gotcha. The final paragraphs were below a bunch of ads and I didn’t see them

8 hours ago, ronster said:

Who owned the massage parlour though ??

Was it set up by a Thai and why was the mother charged in Thailand if the crime was mostly committed in Japan.

I'm guessing they thought it was easier to charge her under trafficking rather than something less in Japan which would have let her off lightly.

It may well have been considered a much more serious offence in Thailand. Unbelievable that there may be places which do not consider it extremely serious.

I think there are some very sick people in Japan. I saw a documentary on BBC about it last year Stacey Dooley who I do not find particularly talented but she does seek out some of the injustices in the world. Office workers going for a drink after work to bars where youngsters were dressed inappropriately and acting much younger than they were. All perfectly legal, above board and even acceptable.

Apparently, they even have vending machines which sell 'worn' underwear. I bet the 'wearer' is nothing like the person pictured on the box.

Very, very strange race.

Is it any different from parents sending their daughters to Pattaya to "earn" money for the family?

31 minutes ago, Effective altruism said:

Is it any different from parents sending their daughters to Pattaya to "earn" money for the family?

Yes, very different. The girl in question was 12 years old and actively pimped out by her mother.

Regarding your statement, I personally do not believe there are that many which are sent by their parents to 'earn' money for the family. Possible encouragement? I'm not denying that. I believe that a large majority do so under their own steam and the parents turn a blind eye to it to save face yet accept the money which comes their way whilst choosing not to think too much whence it came.

Only my opinion but very, very different from your outlook.

Yes, if we long term expat retiries/visitors want to admit it or not, IMHO 80% of our partners came out of a game they did not want to be in by choice. I'm legally and very happly married 25 years now to a lady out of Soi Cowboy. She is currently our Puai Baan (village boss) and a very well respected member of our community. My family and friends back home love her to bits and knowing her background WITH NO STIGMA!

12 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

Human garbage trying to make her daughter the same. Happens more than one thinks here, along with parents sending their children off to sell their bodies to tourists so they'll get some of the proceeds. Filth that should never breed.No prior records can mean never caught, and working in massage parlors abroad usually means one thing.

Do you have any evidence to support your claims? 12 year olds being sent to prostitution?

Didn't think so.

8 hours ago, Aussie999 said:

A lot more common than you think...in the Land Of Sleaze....money comes first.

It was Japan I believe.

2 hours ago, Effective altruism said:

Is it any different from parents sending their daughters to Pattaya to "earn" money for the family?

Oh look, another Aussie

11 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

The mother knows Japanese male fascination with school girl fantasies and so she thought she’d hit the jackpot. She should lose custody of her kids.

It’s not only Japanese male fascination. Look at that Australian man who murdered that little girl and put her in a suitcase and dumped her.

And yes, she was a little girl ! I’m sure you all saw the photos.

Heartbreaking. I’d say it’s all nationalities, some hide it better, some have more money, but these sick people are everywhere.

I do believe prostituting your daughter is unimaginable .

9 hours ago, emptypockets said:

Do you have any evidence to support your claims? 12 year olds being sent to prostitution?

Didn't think so.

I didn't say 12 year olds but some parents here, as well as in other countries certainly do, at teen ages and older. Likely at that young of an age also just like this scum. They're trafficked at all ages also............Primary Drivers of Parental Exploitation

• Extreme Poverty: Families living in deeply impoverished rural areas, particularly in northern and northeastern Thailand, sometimes view selling or pressuring a child into sex work as a last-resort survival mechanism to pay off debts or support the household. [1, 2]

• Cultural Obligations (Katanyu): Traditional Thai customs place a high value on filial piety, or katanyu—the duty of children to repay their parents for raising them. Some parents exploit this deep sense of obligation, leading young girls to believe they must enter the sex trade to provide financial support for their family's survival.

• Vulnerability of Stateless Minorities: Children belonging to ethnic hill tribes in border regions are at a significantly higher risk. Because many lack formal Thai citizenship cards, they are denied access to basic education, healthcare, and formal employment. This lack of legal protection leaves families highly vulnerable to human trafficking networks.

• The lack of care for children here is very high. Girls are already looked at as secondary so this is one step further for their own gains. Girls especially are supposed to take care of their parents when older, with the boys looked at as of higher ranking, even though many are useless.

11 hours ago, Keeps said:

Yes, very different. The girl in question was 12 years old and actively pimped out by her mother.

Regarding your statement, I personally do not believe there are that many which are sent by their parents to 'earn' money for the family. Possible encouragement? I'm not denying that. I believe that a large majority do so under their own steam and the parents turn a blind eye to it to save face yet accept the money which comes their way whilst choosing not to think too much whence it came.

Only my opinion but very, very different from your outlook.

Happens a lot more https://worldhelp.net/families-force-their-daughters-into-the-sex-industry/ than expats think...................https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-13-mn-62017-story.html