Raids Reveal Underage Entertainment Workers

[george]

Raids reveal underage workers

Officials continue ID checks at city entertainment venues

PATTAYA: -- Senior police officers from Pattaya and Banglamung carried out simultaneous raids on four entertainment venues at around 1 a.m. on April 21. Officers were on the lookout for underage patrons and other illegalities.

The first venue to be checked was The Cottage on Pattaya Third Road, where they found one 17-year old youth on the premises. The manager was detained for allowing underage customers in the venue.

Across the road, the Blue Chili Pub was investigated, and everything found to be in order. Next police entered the Susie Bar on Soi 4, where again everything appeared in order.

Police then moved back to Third Road, where they entered the Forte Karaoke Bar. An ID check revealed seven staff aged 16-17, as well as a few who were not carrying ID cards, which is an offence.

The manager was arrested for allowing minors to work in the establishment.

Those without identification had their details recorded and were fined 100 baht, as was the underage staff. The manager, however, faces stiffer penalties as a result of the infringements with the venue likely to be temporarily closed as a result.

More raids and inspections are expected to take place in the near future.

--Pattaya Mail 2005-04-29

[peter991]

Something doesn't ring true here. I have a couple of questions:

1. Immediately after the first raid on the Pattaya Third Road bar, surely word would get around about the raid. When the Police return to Third Road, they find not one, but SEVEN underage staff. A case of somebody's 'tea money' not being up to date? Or is this just a token sacrifice for Police PR purposes?

2. In the Pattaya Forum section of TV, a man from Norway allegedly forced himself on a 12 year old girl, whose parents were customers in the Bar. Were the parents or the bar owner charged with allowing underage patrons on licenced premises? The answer is NO.

Peter

[Jai Dee]

Something doesn't ring true here. I have a couple of questions:

1. Immediately after the first raid on the Pattaya Third Road bar, surely word would get around about the raid. When the Police return to Third Road, they find not one, but SEVEN underage staff. A case of somebody's 'tea money' not being up to date? Or is this just a token sacrifice for Police PR purposes?

2. In the Pattaya Forum section of TV, a man from Norway allegedly forced himself on a 12 year old girl, whose parents were customers in the Bar. Were the parents or the bar owner charged with allowing underage patrons on licenced premises? The answer is NO.

Peter

You cound be right on question number 1... both the Cottage and the Blue Chilli Pub are upmarket places, where typically Pattaya's HISO and hip Thais frequent... the Forte Karaoke Bar is not in the same league. Having said that, both the Cottage and Blue Chilli usually conduct ID checks of their customers... no ID, no entry (except for farang of course).

The only comment I'd make to your scond question is that minors are usually allowed in food-serving venues up to about 11:00 PM... given that the raids were conducted at 1:00 AM, underage patrons would not normally be permitted to remain by the management.

[pautai]

why are they concentrating on Pattaya ?

walk into any kareoki bar in Issan and you will find girls of 13-14-15 years working as

prostitutes serving the local thai males market !

what a joke !!