Child sex ring busted, 25 arrest warrants issued in Chiang Mai

[Just1Voice]

I've got a Thai niece here in Chiang Mai who just turned 18 last week. I was talking to her on FB earlier today, and I told her about this article. She just laughed, then told me she has 3 friends, all 15, all good students, all with fake ID's that say they are 18, who go out every Friday & Saturday night and sell themselves. She says all of their clients are Thai men, and the girls get between 1,500 to 2,500 a turn, depending on what the client wants. On Sundays they go to the mall and buy purses, shoes, clothes, and all have the latest iPhones. When I cautiously asked her if she had ever done this, she laughed and said my wife and I could take her to the hospital and prove she was still a virgin. These girls are not being "exploited" by anyone. They are freely doing it on their own to reap the cash benefits from it.

[from the home of CC]

I've got a Thai niece here in Chiang Mai who just turned 18 last week. I was talking to her on FB earlier today, and I told her about this article. She just laughed, then told me she has 3 friends, all 15, all good students, all with fake ID's that say they are 18, who go out every Friday & Saturday night and sell themselves. She says all of their clients are Thai men, and the girls get between 1,500 to 2,500 a turn, depending on what the client wants. On Sundays they go to the mall and buy purses, shoes, clothes, and all have the latest iPhones. When I cautiously asked her if she had ever done this, she laughed and said my wife and I could take her to the hospital and prove she was still a virgin. These girls are not being "exploited" by anyone. They are freely doing it on their own to reap the cash benefits from it.

And a fifteen year old girl has the common sense to make this call? These girls are being exploited by EVERYONE !

[callaway]

It is a tragic reality that where there is a market for this kind of sick and horrendous perversion, there will be a greedy, unfeeling and just plain evil few who are able to provide the children for exploitation.

The authorities have done well, they have identified those responsible and have moved on the information garnered, now it is up to the courts to process this case very, very quickly and very, very publicly. The courts must now recognize the severity of this crime and hand out appropriate punishment, the kid gloves should be removed permanently with only the most severe of custodial sentences handed down.

Let this case be transparent and high profile as a warning to others, that this evil trade is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,

The most innocent and defenseless among us deserve our protection, no matter what their background or social standing...

Yes, Bignose... and in a perfect world there would be no poor people. Did you know that only in July this year(2015) in a European country the age limit for having sex with a female was 13 years old.. and now raised to 16.(Spain) In Greece now it is still 14yrs old. Yes Fourteen.

Almost all European countries the age limit is 16. And it seems that if the girl is willing .. that age limit drops to 13 yrs old. Although it seems there can still be some minor charge. Also here in Thailand if the girl is willing and with her parents consent, the age limit is 12 yrs, So it seems that once the wheels have been greased, all will walk free.. And if any newspaper prints their names... beware libel cases galore. This is Thailand... money talks bullship walks.... No-one said this world is a nice place... Heaven waits you Bignose.. My own view is, that all Thai females should be banned from having sex with Farangs, whatever age... But I am not here to judge others just to live an honest life to my own principals... for myself... Without nasty people would life be dull...? The devil never stops working..!

Thai females banned for having sex with Farangs? <deleted>? Pattay and Phuket would be ghost towns. By the way I noticed there was no mention of boys having sex with farangs to be banned. Not want to spoil your time here? Just asking so do not trip out on me

[Orac]

and now sit back and read the psychos who think that by advocating extreme and violent punishments they are in some way compensating for their own sick urges

It's very hard to tell what the actual story is from the article. Were they contacting the girl (one girl I think) by Link, or, was the "woman" described her pimp? It's hardley the story of the year if it's a fifteen year old selling herself; there's no evidence that it's a ring, and there's really no story. There are people having sex with pre-pubescent children and babies out there. I don't like it any more than anyone else, but a fifteen year old might not even be known to be under age. I still don't really understand why people want to have sex with very young women at the best of times, and homosexuality I find totally perplexing. However in some cultures both of these two things are totally widespread. Maybe it's a racial differentiation or it runs in families. The thing with me is, even if I wanted to, I wouldn't as I'd not want to be caught and I'd see it as a massively bad idea, making me think that it's some kind of mental weakness to allow oneself to be attracted to 'less than ideal' people.

Did you read the actual story where it clearly says 3 girls aged between 13 and 15.

[Just1Voice]

I've got a Thai niece here in Chiang Mai who just turned 18 last week. I was talking to her on FB earlier today, and I told her about this article. She just laughed, then told me she has 3 friends, all 15, all good students, all with fake ID's that say they are 18, who go out every Friday & Saturday night and sell themselves. She says all of their clients are Thai men, and the girls get between 1,500 to 2,500 a turn, depending on what the client wants. On Sundays they go to the mall and buy purses, shoes, clothes, and all have the latest iPhones. When I cautiously asked her if she had ever done this, she laughed and said my wife and I could take her to the hospital and prove she was still a virgin. These girls are not being "exploited" by anyone. They are freely doing it on their own to reap the cash benefits from it.

And a fifteen year old girl has the common sense to make this call? These girls are being exploited by EVERYONE !

I hardly doubt that. According to my niece, who knows all 3 of them personally, they are all top students in school and come from good, "respectable" families. They know exactly what they are doing, and why. And if you want to use age as a comparison, keep this in mind. In the early days of the U.S., the average age for men heading west was 18, and 15 for the women. And these "kids" built a country! And if you go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Asia, you'll see that MANY countries have the Age of Consent at 13, 14, 15 years of age.

As I said, these 3 girls are not being "exploited" by anyone, and know exactly what they are doing, and why they are doing it. It's only the "puritanical" beliefs of some that think a 15 yr old "doesn't know what she's doing".

[than]

Child Sex Ring Busted 25 Arrest Warrants Issued in Chiang Mai

Welcome to red Lanna country......

[Acharn]

Every too often we get to read such unpleasant news, while there are at least half a dozen government agencies

and NGO appointed and installed to make sure that operations like this one will not happened or exist,

yet there they're, and always on the back of young girls misery and anguish,

What will it take to insure that situations like this one will not come to be? I guess the lure of quick easy

money with protections from some high up senior figures is to temptations to resist,

I just hope that those involve in profiting and wallowing in the heartache and maltreatments of the young girls

will pay the appropriate price, but we all know that this will not likely to happened...

why only girls?

Good point. I'm pretty sure there's a market for young boys, as well. Believe it or not there is a market for male prostitutes. Certainly American and British sex rings that have been busted dealt in boys as well as girls. Usually younger than 13-15, though.

[from the home of CC]

I've got a Thai niece here in Chiang Mai who just turned 18 last week. I was talking to her on FB earlier today, and I told her about this article. She just laughed, then told me she has 3 friends, all 15, all good students, all with fake ID's that say they are 18, who go out every Friday & Saturday night and sell themselves. She says all of their clients are Thai men, and the girls get between 1,500 to 2,500 a turn, depending on what the client wants. On Sundays they go to the mall and buy purses, shoes, clothes, and all have the latest iPhones. When I cautiously asked her if she had ever done this, she laughed and said my wife and I could take her to the hospital and prove she was still a virgin. These girls are not being "exploited" by anyone. They are freely doing it on their own to reap the cash benefits from it.

And a fifteen year old girl has the common sense to make this call? These girls are being exploited by EVERYONE !

I hardly doubt that. According to my niece, who knows all 3 of them personally, they are all top students in school and come from good, "respectable" families. They know exactly what they are doing, and why. And if you want to use age as a comparison, keep this in mind. In the early days of the U.S., the average age for men heading west was 18, and 15 for the women. And these "kids" built a country! And if you go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Asia, you'll see that MANY countries have the Age of Consent at 13, 14, 15 years of age.

As I said, these 3 girls are not being "exploited" by anyone, and know exactly what they are doing, and why they are doing it. It's only the "puritanical" beliefs of some that think a 15 yr old "doesn't know what she's doing".

ahhh wikipedia, such a bastion of knowledge. You may call me 'putitanical', I just can't condone paedophiles.

[Just1Voice]

I've got a Thai niece here in Chiang Mai who just turned 18 last week. I was talking to her on FB earlier today, and I told her about this article. She just laughed, then told me she has 3 friends, all 15, all good students, all with fake ID's that say they are 18, who go out every Friday & Saturday night and sell themselves. She says all of their clients are Thai men, and the girls get between 1,500 to 2,500 a turn, depending on what the client wants. On Sundays they go to the mall and buy purses, shoes, clothes, and all have the latest iPhones. When I cautiously asked her if she had ever done this, she laughed and said my wife and I could take her to the hospital and prove she was still a virgin. These girls are not being "exploited" by anyone. They are freely doing it on their own to reap the cash benefits from it.

And a fifteen year old girl has the common sense to make this call? These girls are being exploited by EVERYONE !

I hardly doubt that. According to my niece, who knows all 3 of them personally, they are all top students in school and come from good, "respectable" families. They know exactly what they are doing, and why. And if you want to use age as a comparison, keep this in mind. In the early days of the U.S., the average age for men heading west was 18, and 15 for the women. And these "kids" built a country! And if you go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Asia, you'll see that MANY countries have the Age of Consent at 13, 14, 15 years of age.

As I said, these 3 girls are not being "exploited" by anyone, and know exactly what they are doing, and why they are doing it. It's only the "puritanical" beliefs of some that think a 15 yr old "doesn't know what she's doing".

ahhh wikipedia, such a bastion of knowledge. You may call me 'putitanical', I just can't condone paedophiles.

I didn't say I condoned it at all. I'm just telling you how it is. Not all young girls are "tricked" or "coerced" into that business. Many of them enter it of their own free will, and know exactly what they are doing. Simple as that.

[elektrified]

Once guilt is certain I for one would hope to see all these sicko's names posted in the media.......

It is refreshing to see that the authorities are being the predators to the predators!

A number of their names have already been posted in the media.

[Nobb]

The land of a thousand professional police and sick CEO,s in Thailand plus one Temple Abbot is so sad about the morals or lack of morals in Thailand!

[soalbundy]

Let's not assume that the little innocents were forced into this, a friend of mine told me that in a Chiang Mai high school there were so many young girls willing to sell sex that a teacher had made a time table ( for a fee ) so that they all got their fair share. This country is amoral regarding sex, there is only outrage if they feel they can make money out of it.

[Orac]

Let's not assume that the little innocents were forced into this, a friend of mine told me that in a Chiang Mai high school there were so many young girls willing to sell sex that a teacher had made a time table ( for a fee ) so that they all got their fair share. This country is amoral regarding sex, there is only outrage if they feel they can make money out of it.

13 year olds working in a brothel?

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I've got a Thai niece here in Chiang Mai who just turned 18 last week. I was talking to her on FB earlier today, and I told her about this article. She just laughed, then told me she has 3 friends, all 15, all good students, all with fake ID's that say they are 18, who go out every Friday & Saturday night and sell themselves. She says all of their clients are Thai men, and the girls get between 1,500 to 2,500 a turn, depending on what the client wants. On Sundays they go to the mall and buy purses, shoes, clothes, and all have the latest iPhones. When I cautiously asked her if she had ever done this, she laughed and said my wife and I could take her to the hospital and prove she was still a virgin. These girls are not being "exploited" by anyone. They are freely doing it on their own to reap the cash benefits from it.

Good on those specific girls, but no reason not to prosecute men seeking sex with children under 15. Maybe those three girls are happy doing it, but many others can easily get severely burnt, especially if NOT from a respectable family, but for example girls who are in the country illegally, or other circumstances where they're not in control. And then: under 15, it doesn't even matter if they think they're doing it freely or not; they're children and that's the end of it.

[soalbundy]

I've got a Thai niece here in Chiang Mai who just turned 18 last week. I was talking to her on FB earlier today, and I told her about this article. She just laughed, then told me she has 3 friends, all 15, all good students, all with fake ID's that say they are 18, who go out every Friday & Saturday night and sell themselves. She says all of their clients are Thai men, and the girls get between 1,500 to 2,500 a turn, depending on what the client wants. On Sundays they go to the mall and buy purses, shoes, clothes, and all have the latest iPhones. When I cautiously asked her if she had ever done this, she laughed and said my wife and I could take her to the hospital and prove she was still a virgin. These girls are not being "exploited" by anyone. They are freely doing it on their own to reap the cash benefits from it.

Good on those specific girls, but no reason not to prosecute men seeking sex with children under 15. Maybe those three girls are happy doing it, but many others can easily get severely burnt, especially if NOT from a respectable family, but for example girls who are in the country illegally, or other circumstances where they're not in control. And then: under 15, it doesn't even matter if they think they're doing it freely or not; they're children and that's the end of it.

If they have fake ID's how is a guy to know, no difference in a 15 year old body to an 18 year old, they are legally children but right cunning astute children who know what they are doing,these are no little led astray innocents, of course in court they will say that their lives have been ruined if there is a few Baht to be made out of it.

[Puwa]

Every time a case like this comes up, there are always one or two posters who-- in the guise devil's advocate, freethinker, economic realist, or police skeptic--share with us their own views on young girls in the sex trade. After careful consideration and research, sometimes involving a fictitious niece, they report their conclusions from the ground: the girls love it, the men are just acting naturally, and it all results in a nice shopping trip to the mall. Puritans move along, nothing to see here. They try substitute their story, in which a group of precocious and savvy young ladies are simply enjoying the fruits of free choice, for the actual story reported in the news, which suggests an uglier picture. It never ceases to amaze me what crawls out of the woodwork when a lurid story is in the air.

[from the home of CC]

Every time a case like this comes up, there are always one or two posters who-- in the guise devil's advocate, freethinker, economic realist, or police skeptic--share with us their own views on young girls in the sex trade. After careful consideration and research, sometimes involving a fictitious niece, they report their conclusions from the ground: the girls love it, the men are just acting naturally, and it all results in a nice shopping trip to the mall. Puritans move along, nothing to see here. They try substitute their story, in which a group of precocious and savvy young ladies are simply enjoying the fruits of free choice, for the actual story reported in the news, which suggests an uglier picture. It never ceases to amaze me what crawls out of the woodwork when a lurid story is in the air.

Wouldn't surprise me if international police agencies don't have a look closer.

[stephenterry]

I was talking to a girl in bkk and asked her why she go with farang. She said I like sex. And she was serious.

[bangmai]

Strange, this is the first time EVER I have seen Govt. officials and police actually busting a child sex ring involving Thais? I am sure this kind of stuff is going on in every part of Thailand including incest and the likes, but is always ignored as part of the normal social thing that nobody talks about....similar to the West about 35 - 40 years ago shops openly was selling child pornography and nobody talked about it until some cases of child sexual abuse became headlines and the discussions started.

I remember back in the late 90s a boy brothel in Nonthaburi (boys aged 6-14, about 30 of them) was busted. It was a Thai for Thai operation. They even found a ledger the owner kept, many influential people listed. After the BKK Post reported it once, never saw anything about it again.

Same thing happened San Francisco in the early 90s...http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2008/03/11/a-timeline-of-politicians-and-prostitutes

[farangmick]

I can't see how even an honest police force could operate under a system like Thailand's. Record a crime, have a named suspect, then have to apply for an arrest warrant whilst the suspect foxtrot oscars. UK, reasonable belief offence committed, ditto suspect done it, you're nicked my lad. Even the RTP could understand that.

[fred Kubasa]

Interesting to note that the police often "storm" household gamblers or Go Gos and bars yet need, AND ANNOUNCE the need for warrants in cases like these.I don't know why they couldn't/didn't just do their storm troopers move,

middle of the night, and bring this bunch back in handcuffs !

[WinnieTheKhwai]

I've got a Thai niece here in Chiang Mai who just turned 18 last week. I was talking to her on FB earlier today, and I told her about this article. She just laughed, then told me she has 3 friends, all 15, all good students, all with fake ID's that say they are 18, who go out every Friday & Saturday night and sell themselves. She says all of their clients are Thai men, and the girls get between 1,500 to 2,500 a turn, depending on what the client wants. On Sundays they go to the mall and buy purses, shoes, clothes, and all have the latest iPhones. When I cautiously asked her if she had ever done this, she laughed and said my wife and I could take her to the hospital and prove she was still a virgin. These girls are not being "exploited" by anyone. They are freely doing it on their own to reap the cash benefits from it.

Good on those specific girls, but no reason not to prosecute men seeking sex with children under 15. Maybe those three girls are happy doing it, but many others can easily get severely burnt, especially if NOT from a respectable family, but for example girls who are in the country illegally, or other circumstances where they're not in control. And then: under 15, it doesn't even matter if they think they're doing it freely or not; they're children and that's the end of it.

If they have fake ID's how is a guy to know, no difference in a 15 year old body to an 18 year old, they are legally children but right cunning astute children who know what they are doing,these are no little led astray innocents, of course in court they will say that their lives have been ruined if there is a few Baht to be made out of it.

Well that's for the courts to find out. 14 year old can be dolled up like an adult, OR dressed up as a young schoolgirl; there's market for both.

The laws fortunately don't get into such distinctions, and it's up to the customer to make sure they don't end up abusing children. Just how difficult is that anyway? When in doubt, move along.

[thaiman]

Are they using the LINE conversations as evidence against the accused? How were they able to obtain enough info to issue the warrants?

[LarryBird]

I meet a lot of farang here who are hellbent on shagging girls as close to 18 as possible. And, they prefer that they look younger. To me, it's just not my thing. I'm not fixated on age. I don't think that makes me a better person, it's just not my thing. It would be interesting to learn more of the details here.. If they were Thai or Burmese? How willingly were the girls participating? How much did the men know? Did the girls have fake ids? Sometimes a 15 year old can do themselves up to look 21, right? Is it really that far fetched to believe some of these guys might have believed the girls were of age? I would place most of the blame with the pimp.

It's also important to note that they were not pre-pubescant. Is a 15 year old who perhaps willingly participates in such an event in that much need of protection by the state? This isn't the case of a young child who was coerced into something by their coach or pastor. They probably found about the pimps arrangement from their other friends and contacted her on line. Some of this is speculation, but their are different forms of child predators. Girls who are going out of their way to sell their bodies to guys... Blame their parents. Blame poverty. There is also the fact that a financial transaction in exchange for sex is quite common in Thailand. I get the impression some girls feel like they're being taken for a sucker if they don't get paid.

Anyway, random thoughts. If the guys knew they were shagging young girls and doing something illegal, they took the risk, so they should be willing to accept some punishment.

[cdnvic]

Ok, I know this is an emotional issue, but stop all the personal attacks and hyperbole please. Sensitive issues like this need calm and rational discussion.

[FolkGuitar]

Every time a case like this comes up, there are always one or two posters who-- in the guise devil's advocate, freethinker, economic realist, or police skeptic--share with us their own views on young girls in the sex trade. After careful consideration and research, sometimes involving a fictitious niece, they report their conclusions from the ground: the girls love it, the men are just acting naturally, and it all results in a nice shopping trip to the mall. Puritans move along, nothing to see here. They try substitute their story, in which a group of precocious and savvy young ladies are simply enjoying the fruits of free choice, for the actual story reported in the news, which suggests an uglier picture. It never ceases to amaze me what crawls out of the woodwork when a lurid story is in the air.

Wouldn't surprise me if international police agencies don't have a look closer.

They are actively doing just that. In fact, for several years the Australian Federal Police had a large office in Chiang Mai, working only cases of Human Trafficking and child sexual abuse. Unfortunately, their actions were severely curtailed by local law enforcement, their movements restricted, and when they did actually make a case, the final charges became 'harboring aliens' rather than child sexual abuse so the punishment was deportation rather than imprisonment.

The American Drug Enforcement Agency has (or had? It's been a while since I was in contact,) an office in Chiang Mai as well. More than half of its staff is devoted to Human Trafficking rather than drug interdiction.

Several other international agencies have staff stationed in Chiang Mai as well, but without local offices.

Edited November 8, 2015 by FolkGuitar

[khwaibah]

Just did a major bust of 11 karaoke bars in Sangkha/Surin which netted 40 under age girls. This happened two days ago and was reported in the Bangkok Post. The authorities are seriously coming down on this under human trafficking.

[Puwa]

DEA still has a large presence here (as do a few other US agencies).

[FolkGuitar, even though I disagreed with you vehemently in another recent thread, I'm glad to read your contribution to this one]

Every time a case like this comes up, there are always one or two posters who-- in the guise devil's advocate, freethinker, economic realist, or police skeptic--share with us their own views on young girls in the sex trade. After careful consideration and research, sometimes involving a fictitious niece, they report their conclusions from the ground: the girls love it, the men are just acting naturally, and it all results in a nice shopping trip to the mall. Puritans move along, nothing to see here. They try substitute their story, in which a group of precocious and savvy young ladies are simply enjoying the fruits of free choice, for the actual story reported in the news, which suggests an uglier picture. It never ceases to amaze me what crawls out of the woodwork when a lurid story is in the air.

Wouldn't surprise me if international police agencies don't have a look closer.

They are actively doing just that. In fact, for several years the Australian Federal Police had a large office in Chiang Mai, working only cases of Human Trafficking and child sexual abuse. Unfortunately, their actions were severely curtailed by local law enforcement, their movements restricted, and when they did actually make a case, the final charges became 'harboring aliens' rather than child sexual abuse so the punishment was deportation rather than imprisonment.

The American Drug Enforcement Agency has (or had? It's been a while since I was in contact,) an office in Chiang Mai as well. More than half of its staff is devoted to Human Trafficking rather than drug interdiction.

Several other international agencies have staff stationed in Chiang Mai as well, but without local offices.

[cyberfarang]

I meet a lot of farang here who are hellbent on shagging girls as close to 18 as possible. And, they prefer that they look younger. To me, it's just not my thing. I'm not fixated on age. I don't think that makes me a better person, it's just not my thing. It would be interesting to learn more of the details here.. If they were Thai or Burmese? How willingly were the girls participating? How much did the men know? Did the girls have fake ids? Sometimes a 15 year old can do themselves up to look 21, right? Is it really that far fetched to believe some of these guys might have believed the girls were of age? I would place most of the blame with the pimp.

It's also important to note that they were not pre-pubescant. Is a 15 year old who perhaps willingly participates in such an event in that much need of protection by the state? This isn't the case of a young child who was coerced into something by their coach or pastor. They probably found about the pimps arrangement from their other friends and contacted her on line. Some of this is speculation, but their are different forms of child predators. Girls who are going out of their way to sell their bodies to guys... Blame their parents. Blame poverty. There is also the fact that a financial transaction in exchange for sex is quite common in Thailand. I get the impression some girls feel like they're being taken for a sucker if they don't get paid.

Anyway, random thoughts. If the guys knew they were shagging young girls and doing something illegal, they took the risk, so they should be willing to accept some punishment.

You say that young looking girls are not your thing, then you ask is a 15 year old who perhaps willingly participates in such an event in that much need of protection by the state?

My answer to that is, yes. Because CHILDREN of that age are not experienced, vulnerable and easily groomed to be abused and violated, including not having knowledge of safe sex, protection and mentally and many physically not developed enough to be involved in prostitution, like children who play with fire get burned. Men that are aroused by under aged teens are still pedophiles and why there are laws to protect them from this filth.