Police arrest Thai human trafficking gang after sexual assault is exposed

[webfact]

Police arrest Thai human trafficking gang after sexual assault is exposed



BANGKOK: -- Sa Kaeo police yesterday arrested three members of a human trafficking gang after they kidnapped four Cambodian migrant workers at gunpoint and raped them in hotel in Sa Kaeo province.

The police are still hunting for other gang members who also raped two other migrant workers, one of them aged below 15, at a nearby hotel and freed them on a road in Aranyaprathet.

Police identified the three arrested gang members as Pern Kem-ngern, 31, Thanakorn Deemee, 31, and Uthai Nongpa, 33. They were taken from their rented house in Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo province.

Two pistols and more than 10 rounds of ammunition were seized along with three pickup trucks and two cars.

Prior to the arrest, a police mobile patrol car found four women, aged between 15 and 35, weeping while walking down a road in Aranyaprathet on Wednesday.

The kidnap and rape story was then revealed by the migrant workers through a Cambodian interpreter at the police station.

The workers said they are among 20 illegal Cambodian migrant workers seeking for jobs in Thailand and were arranged to stay together at a townhouse in Song Roi Hong community waiting for the job brokers to pick them up and take them to Bangkok.

While staying in the house, they said three hooded armed men broke into the room they shared with other illegal migrant workers and picked six girls who looked good and took them at gunpoint to go with them. Among them were a 15-year-old girl and a 23-year-old woman.

They took all six women to a hotel in the same district where the 15-year-old girl and a 23-year-old woman were later taken away by a gang member.

The remaining two men then raped the 19-year-old and 21-year-old women before stealing a pair of gold earrings, a mobile phone and 3,000 baht cash and leaving, one of the migrant worker told police.

She also said they had no idea where the other two victims were taken when they were freed on a road, and just walking down weeping until the police found them.

Yesterday Boon Dee, 41, a Cambodian man, yesterday lodged a complaint with Sa Kaeo police saying his 15-year-old daughter had been abducted by three Thai men.

He said his daughter made a mobile call to him telling she was abducted along with another woman and raped.

Police later learned the three men were the people who abducted the six Cambodian women and Boon Dee’s daughter was the girl who was separated and taken away along with another girl to another adjacent hotel.

Sa Kaeo provincial police chief Pol Maj Gen Yingyos Thepchamnong said the police were asking the 15-year-old and the 23-year-old victims to identify the gang.

The two girls were left at the hotel until hotel staff found them and took them to immigration police who immediately deported them to Cambodia.

The Cambodian father then travelled along with Cambodian consular officials to Cambodia to look for his daughter and the other victim.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/police-crack-thai-human-trafficking-gang-rape-exposed/


-- Thai PBS 2014-07-25

[UbonRatch]

I thought police displays of arrested suspects were now abolished? ?

[robertthebruce]

How sad is this, poor women....

Words fail me.....

[Deacon Bell]

The term 'Utter Scum' doesn't do these guys justice.

Just one thing:

"The two girls were left at the hotel until hotel staff found them and took them to immigration police who immediately deported them to Cambodia."

What da <deleted>?

[Deacon Bell]

A good ol' 48 hour beating while tied to a chair, then raped themselves might be justice.

[uptheos]

Kidnapped at gunpoint and then raped.

If guilty, no punishment is too harsh for the scum that did this!

[Deacon Bell]

I keep on hearing that 95% of Thais are Buddhist.

Going by the news, the other 5% sure do get up to a lot of stuff.

[aussieinthailand]

Sounds fairly accurate, And some Thai people are angry with their human trafficking rating being lowered to tier three,

Farangs just not fair and don't understand Thainess.

Threaten these filth with a never to be released sentence unless hey give up every one involved and the job broker, and they should have all their possessions taken and proceeds given too the victims.

[Deacon Bell]

Beautiful society, isn't it.

[Crazy88]

They should be forced to wear different colored clothes in prison.

at least the show the full names Pern Kem-ngern, 31, Thanakorn Deemee, 31, and Uthai Nongpa, 33

in Europe the media would protect them and never show the real names... , the will get what they deserve sooner or later.

[dinger]

The term 'Utter Scum' doesn't do these guys justice.

Just one thing:

"The two girls were left at the hotel until hotel staff found them and took them to immigration police who immediately deported them to Cambodia."

What da phuq?

Outstanding job by the police, throw those trouble making girls out of the country before they cause any more problems. What the hell are the police thinking, may cause us more paperwork if we follow up on this

[Deacon Bell]

The term 'Utter Scum' doesn't do these guys justice.

Just one thing:

"The two girls were left at the hotel until hotel staff found them and took them to immigration police who immediately deported them to Cambodia."

What da phuq?

Outstanding job by the police, throw those trouble making girls out of the country before they cause any more problems. What the hell are the police thinking, may cause us more paperwork if we follow up on this

Quite an insight into the mind of the Thai, isn't it.

After all, it is only a few Cambodians.

As my mother says when she reads the news here 'And they call themselves Buddhists'.

[webfact]

Thai Gunmen Kidnap & Rape 6 Illegal Migrants, Police Say
By Khaosod English


Police have arrested 3 men accused of abducting and sexually assaulting six Cambodian women after smuggling them into Thailand, 24 July 2014.

SA KAEO — Police say they have arrested three Thai men who confessed to abducting and sexually assaulting six Cambodian women after smuggling them into Thailand.

At a press conference held yesterday morning at Aranya Prathet Police Station, Pol.Col. Subin Thonglek said police were alerted about the incident after they encountered four Cambodian women walking tearfully along a road in Baan Mai Nong Sai district.

Upon questioning via an interpreter, the four women reportedly told police that they and two other Cambodian women were kidnapped from their apartment in Sa Kaeo province.

According to the victims, they and other 20 Cambodian women were smuggled to Thailand and had been hiding in the apartment while they waited to be sent to Bangkok to find work.

At around 3 am on 23 July, three masked men broke into their hideout and forced them into a vehicle at gunpoint, the victims said. The six women were reportedly taken to a motel in the province, where one of the masked men separated two women from the group and took them to another location.

The remaining two men then proceeded to rape the four Cambodian women, victims told police. The suspects later robbed the four Cambodian women and left them on the road where police found them, Pol.Col. Subin said.

The police promptly investigated the case and tracked down three perpetrators in their hideout in Aranya Prathet district, Pol.Col. Subin told reporters. The suspects are Pern Kam-ngone, Thanatkorn Deemee, and Uthai Nongpha.

A search of the suspects' residence turned up two handguns and ten bullets, Pol.Col. Subin said.

According Pol.Col. Subin, the perpetrators confessed to smuggling the women into the country and sexually assaulting them.

However, police say they could not locate the other two Cambodian women who were separated from the group at the motel.

One of the suspects, Mr. Pern said he took the two women away to another motel where he sexually assaulted them before fleeing the scene. Staff at the motel told police they found the women after Mr. Pern had left and took them back to Cambodia via an unmarked track across the border.

Police have asked Cambodian authorities to locate the two women and return them to Thailand to press charges against the three suspects.

Abuses and reforms

Thailand is home to hundreds of thousands of undocumented Cambodian migrant workers who come to Thailand via smuggling networks. Their undocumented status often makes them vulnerable to abuse by their employers, smugglers, and corrupt authorities.

In its latest annual report on human trafficking situation, the US Department of State downgraded Thailand to the lowest rank of Tier 3, citing evidence of widespread abuse of undocumented workers, often in connection with corrupt and complicit law enforcement officers.

Shortly after the military junta staged a coup on 22 May, more than 200,000 Cambodian workers fled the country en masse, fearing a possible crackdown on undocumented migrants. The ruling National Council of Peace and Order (NCPO) responded by announcing plans to reform the migrant worker system and setting up "One Stop Services" in several provinces to legally register migrants in Thailand.

More than 30,000 Cambodians have signed up for resident and work permits at One Stop Service centres along the border in Sa Kaeo province, said Pol.Col. Teerachai Detkhard, commander of Immigration Police in Sa Kaeo.

Pol.Col. Teerachai advised that all Cambodians should come and register with immigration officials instead of hiring smugglers like in the past.

"Every official is saddened by what happened," Pol.Col. Teerchai said, referring to the kidnapping and raping of six Cambodian women in the province. "So we would like to invite all migrant workers to register legally with the Immigration Police."

He explained, "Although they may have to face some delay, because there are many applicants [at the centre], it wouldn't take too long. And they will be safe. They don't have to hide."

A 26-year-old Cambodian who was waiting in line at the registration centre at the border checkpoint said she heard about the rapes and decided to register with the Thai officials because she thinks it is a safer way to enter the country.

"I don't have to put myself at risk of being kidnapped and raped like what happened," said the migrant, who gave her name as Ros.

Pol.Col. Teerachai also criticised the motel staff who sent the two Cambodian women who were reportedly raped by Mr. Poen back to Cambodia instead of bringing them to the police.

"All Cambodian workers that face problems in Thailand should inform the police. We will help them all, whether they are legal workers or not," Pol.Col. Teerchai said.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1406272545


-- Khaosod English 2014-07-25

[pookiki]

If Cambodia has drastically reduced the cost of a passport and it is so easy for migrant workers to come to Thailand now, how do these smuggling syndicates continue to exist?

[transam]

Hmmmmm, they have a gun and also knee caps, the two seem to go together...........

[laolover88]

Good looking bunch of boys? Are we sure they are Thai?

Good reason for not living in Aranyaprathet. Actually good reason for locking up your daughters and leaving this place!

[Deacon Bell]

No mention of anything happening to the immigration police that reportedly immediately deported alleged (and possibly underage) rape victims?

The more I hear of Thai treatment of Cambodians, Burmese and Lao, the more I want to

Edited July 25, 2014 by Deacon Bell

[macca3248]

Turn the scum into crab bait !!!!!

[NomadJoe]

Immediately deport rape and human trafficking victims. Nice. In the states there are actually emergency visa classes which can be issued to victims of this kind of thing, and police generally are advised not to ask, and some places aren't allowed to even ask, a potential illegal immigrant their immigration status.

[Oziex1]

They out on bail yet?

[JacChang]

I am worried about the other 2 girls. From the news, it seems what happened after the staff alerted the immigration and the immediate deportation, doesn't seem to be such a reliable source to me.

I hope it really went that way, and that the immigration police did in fact received those 2 girls and arranged a safe official way for them back.

But I just have a gut feeling it isn't. Hired some somchai driver to sent them to immigration police, but halfway down the path, the evil in men emerged. Or one of the gang member arrived at the scene and "took care" of the problem, by saying he will make sure the girls will be safe home, but not.

Remember, these are young supposedly beautiful girls. 15 and 23 yr olds.

Let's hope the police continue to investigate, and actually confirm the immigration officials did received these 2 particular girls and track their status as to where they are now.

[belg]

so 2 rapes and abducted victims, were deported by immigration ... wow thailand ... 2014 or 1814 ?

slap on the hand for the rapists right ... and 500 b fine

Edited July 25, 2014 by belg

[FangFerang]

Very convenient to deport the accused....

Bad form. Diversionary tactics and worst...obfuscation while claiming transparency.

On this event--

junta gets an F (and don't blame the cops this time because they, like Goebbels did, are "just following orders").

Edited July 25, 2014 by FangFerang

[BestBitterPhuket]

The Thai scum involved in human trafficking have been living well for the last decades. Can the junta manage to put them in prison for life or are things going to continue like before.

[lvr181]

Castrate the perpetrators! That should act as a disincentive in the future.

[CharlieH]

A number of 'over the top' and offensive posts together with others quoting them have been removed.

[Dumu Ali]

A crying shame as poor Cambodians enter the Thai Raping Fields , no end to the suffering of the poor when greeted in the Land of Smiles, I pray for those girls and it hurts to see so much sad news

[IamNoone88]

Deporting key witnesses and alledged victims within hours............disgaceful, shameful, ridiclous, uncompassionate and downright dumb.

Shear stupidity, flawed laws or is collusion at play? Trafficking is afterall, big business.

[stephen terry]

The young women were victims of their society; go and find work in Thailand and send money back to family - and then the double whammy of being raped by Thai monsters once arrived. I now hope every immigrant will go to the immigration police for a pass, so as to squeeze these trafficking rats out of business - and this gang must be rounded up and sent to prison for a long time.

[Paulzed]

Another act of evil by Thai people that have no concept of Buddhism or humanity!