Regional News

US Prosecutors Seek Help from Thai Authorities in Sex Ring Case

US attorney for Minnesota Andrew Luger is hoping more women come forward after last week’s charges against 17 people, including 12 Thais.

WASHINGTON – US law officials are urging closer cooperation with the Royal Thai Police to expand their investigations into a trafficking ring they claim involved hundreds of Thai women being sold into “sexual slavery” in the United States.

“This is a hierarchical organisation,” US Assistant Attorney Laura Provinzino told US Public Radio. “We hope to work with police in Thailand to identify additional people involved in the trafficking and more of the victims.”

A dozen people were arrested in cities across the US on Tuesday after the US attorney for Minnesota, Andrew Luger, unsealed an indictment charging 17 members of an alleged international sex trafficking ring. The accused include 12 Thai nationals and five Americans. The multiple charges covered sex trafficking, forced labour, money laundering and visa fraud.

The indictment said since 2009, hundreds of women were brought from Thailand to several US cities, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Washington and Dallas and forced to work off “debt bondage” of $40,000-60,000 (up to 2 million baht).

Sumalee Intarathong, 55, who was arrested in Belgium on Aug 5 on similar trafficking charges, was identified as the alleged “boss” of the operation who “owned the girls” before they until the paid off the bondage debt. US prosecutors said they will seek her extradition from Belgium.

Despite the US attorney’s claims that hundreds of women were sold into “sexual slavery”, it appears a small number have spoken to investigators.

“A number of women have come forward already, and we are hoping more will as a result of today’s charges,” Mr Luger said.

When asked how many are cooperating with US law enforcement, Ms Provinzino said “some are”.

“We have victims all throughout the United States,” she said. “We are working with our NGO partners to make sure they have the appropriate services they need and also to make sure that they have legal support should they be eligible for visas or other immigration benefits as being trafficking victims.”

Thatree Chauvachata, director of the Protection of Thai Nationals Abroad Division under the Foreign Ministry, said they were setting up help centres at all Thai consulates in the US for the alleged victims. He said since the allegations were made public on Tuesday they have received only one request for help.

“We are now trying to get officials from the Thai consulate in the US to help us with some basic investigations,” he told the Bangkok Post Sunday.

“But some states are on the ‘non-mandatory list’ which means they don’t have to inform us if they find the women. If anyone is in need of help, they can contact us at any time, we will have local officials to help in their locations.”

Kornchai Klayklueng, the commander of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, said they had always worked closely with US Homeland Security in Bangkok on human trafficking and prostitution and “this case is no different”.

Maj Gen Kornchai said they hadn’t received any special request from the US government regarding the case. He said they were already investigating the Thais allegedly involved and running checks on their criminal records in Thailand.

Maj Gen Kornchai said they were working with the Department of Consular Affairs, Civil Registration Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and local police to see if there was a link to people trafficking.

“We are now working hard to determine who they are and where they are,” he told the Bangkok Post Sunday of the 12 Thais charged. “I’m not sure if the traffickers are working in Thailand or outside of the country.”

Mr Luger said their investigation — which used surveillance, search warrants and interviews — revealed “a global command and control structure based out of Thailand that employed house bosses, recruiters, facilitators and runners both in Thailand and abroad”.

“These co-conspirators rented apartments and hotels and provided domestic and foreign transportation of the victims, laundered proceeds and committed visa fraud.”

Ms Provinzino said the investigation started in Minnesota when they noticed many Thai women code-named “flowers” being transported through the Minneapolis-St Paul airport. They were immediately taken to shopping malls in inner-ring suburbs. “They’d purchase condoms and other supplies and then they were taken directly to the hotel or apartment where they were then set to service multiple men each day in commercial sex acts,” she said.

Many of the women were taken to airports and flown to cities around the US after their services were advertised on websites. They were under the supervision of “runners” who were sometimes “paid” with sexual services provided by the women at their boss’s behest.

Ms Provinzino said the women were isolated and didn’t have any ability to say no to where they were going or who they would have sex with.

They were lured to the US with the promise of a better life and assurances the bondage debt would be paid off within two months. “What we are learning from our victims is that it could take substantially longer than that,” she said “Up to four or five years, or never at all.”

Mr Luger said an important part of the alleged ring keeping control over the women was the personal information the “friendly” traffickers extracted from them.

“Armed with this information, the bosses and Thai gangsters they associated with threatened the women who wanted to, or tried to, escape from the organisation, including threats their families would be harmed if they didn’t do everything they were told,” he said.

Mr Luger said despite the close attention from the runners, who even accompanied them to the bank to ensure they paid their bondage debts, some of the women managed to escape.

By Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai | Bangkok Post

Regional News

Thai Immigration Police Detain Over 26,000 Illegal Migrant Workers

Thailand’s Immigration Police have detained approximately 26,000 illegal migrant workers from Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia during an eight-day operation in Bangkok and surrounding regions, according to a Royal Thai Police spokesperson.

Mr Adisorn Keudmeuangkhon of the Bangkok-based Migrant Working Group said the drive was in response to an increasing number of concerns about an influx of illegal migrant labor.

“Some Thai people see that many illegal workers are competing for their job positions in the past few months,” he told me. “That’s why the ministry has to take tougher action.”

Civil strife in Myanmar and the recent implementation of a military conscription have driven thousands of Burmese into Thailand, while severe inflation and limited job opportunities in Laos have also encouraged an influx of workers from that country.

Between June 5 and 12, officials detained and checked 20,111 Myanmar laborers, 1,659 Laotian migrant workers, and 3,971 Cambodian workers, according to the Ministry of Labor.

It marked the start of a 120-day campaign to audit workplaces and arrest unlawful migrant workers, according to the government.

Migrant Workers to be Deported

According to Keudmeuangkhon, undocumented workers face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 Thai baht (US $136 to $1,365), deportation, and a two-year prohibition on re-entering Thailand.

Authorities did not intend to file criminal charges, he claimed.

Authorities raided 1,774 workplaces, according to Moe Gyo, chairman of the Joint Action Committee on Burmese Affairs, which advocates for Myanmar labor rights.

He stated that since the military junta activated conscription, there has been an upsurge in the number of arrests of Myanmar citizens in Thailand who do not have a work permit identity card.

All men aged 18 to 35 and women aged 18 to 27 must serve in the military for at least two years. The first group of 5,000 conscripts summoned by Myanmar’s junta will start duty at the end of this month, military sources told AFP on Monday.

According to Keudmeuangkhon, the bulk of Lao migrant workers in Thailand work as fresh market shopkeepers, restaurant servers, and mall salespeople.

Most people visit Thailand as part of ASEAN’s visa-free policy for tourists, but they stay longer than the 30-day restriction once they find job.

“Employers like to hire Lao migrant workers in the service sector because they can speak fluent Thai,” he told me.

Immigration Police Detain Illegal Migrant Workers

The Thai Cabinet may approve an enhanced program for Thai employers to register their unauthorized foreign workers in July or August. Keudmeuangkhon explained.

Last month, the Thai Ministry of Labor’s Foreign Workers Administration office announced that 268,465 Lao migrant workers were officially working in Thailand.

Baykham Kattiya, Lao Minister of Labor, told Radio Free Asia earlier this month that there are 415,956 migrant workers in other nations, the majority of whom work in Thailand.

According to her, the Lao government believes that over 203,000 persons working outside of the nation lack proper work documents.

However, a Lao official familiar with the labor industry informed Radio Free Asia, a BenarNews-affiliated news station, on June 20 that the number of illegal Lao migrant workers in Thailand and abroad is likely significantly greater.

“They go to other countries as illegal migrant workers through different types of methods – as tourists or students,” said the politician. “Thus, it is hard for the immigration police to collect data on these people.”

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

Government Officials Responsible for Smuggling in Migrant Workers

News

High School Student Dies After Being Electrocuted By School Water Dispenser

14-year-old boy was electrocuted by a water dispenser: File Image

Thailand’s Office of Basic Education Commission has initiated an investigation into the electrocution of a 14-year-old student by a water dispenser in a high school. The event happened at noon on Friday, during the high school’s sports day. The victim was a Grade 8 student.

According to local media in Trang Province, the incident occurred when a teacher instructed the pupil to turn off a water dispenser amid a heavy rain.

According to a witness, the child collapsed while strolling with his friend near a water station. The friend claimed he attempted to assist but was also shocked by electricity.

According to reports, the friend then recovered, left the site, and requested assistance from teachers. A teacher ran to the scene and used a towel to pull the boy away by the ankle. He was taken to the hospital, but it was too late, they claimed.

The event sparked criticism from parents and netizens over school safety, as well as the slow response to aid the young youngster.

Mr. Chainarong Changrua, head of Trang-Krabi’s Secondary Educational Service Area Office, told local media on Sunday that forensic officers from Trang Provincial Police had visited the area. They discovered the blown breaker switch behind the water dispenser, he explained.

The breaker was burned out, thus the authorities assumed the disaster was caused by a short circuit that allowed energy to spill to a neighboring power pole. The student also appeared wet and was not wearing shoes when electrocuted.

According to the Office of Basic Education Commission, a probe team will complete its investigation this week.

The student’s father, Mr Pornchai Thepsuwan, 53, claimed he was saddened when he saw his son’s body. The boy (Wayu), was the youngest of two boys, he explained. He stated that following the tragedy, the school director and staff gave financial assistance to the families.

Mr Pornchai also said he would not seek charges against the institution because he believed it was an accident.

Electrical accidents in Thailand

Electrocution instances in Thailand have increased alarmingly in recent years. Many mishaps occur as a result of improper wiring and inadequate maintenance of electrical systems.

Public locations, such as schools and markets, frequently lack adequate safety precautions, putting individuals in danger. In rural areas, antiquated infrastructure exacerbates the situation, resulting in more frequent and serious events.

Although several high-profile cases have brought these challenges to light, genuine progress has been gradual. Furthermore, the rainy season heightens the likelihood of electrical accidents, as water and exposed wires do not mix well.

The government has made steps to strengthen safety standards, but enforcement is patchy. More education on electrical safety could help to reduce these accidents.

Unfortunately, better infrastructure and tougher rules may have prevented many of these incidents. The loss and injuries caused by electrocution are avoidable, emphasizing the need for immediate action.

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

Over 200 High School Students Facing Sedition Charges in Thailand

News

Thailand’s Tourist Police Crackdown on Tourist Scammers in Pattaya

Tourist Police Pattaya: File Image

Thailand’s Tourist Police said it is collaborating with embassies from five countries to combat tourist scams and ten criminal gangs in Pattaya. The Tourist Police Bureau, convened a meeting on Thursday Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am told a press briefing.

Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phuek-am, the Tourist Police bureau commissioner said the participants included ambassadors from South Korea, Ukraine, Russia, India, and Switzerland.

He told the briefing the he had ordered a crackdown on tourist frauds, such as fraudulent or low-quality tour operators and unfair sales of goods and services. Stepped-up operations began on June 19 and will continue until June 25.

He stated that the agency was working with numerous organisations to increase tourists’ confidence in visiting Pattaya.

Gen Saksira spent time on the famed Walking Street speaking with officers on duty and assigned them to seek for members of ten criminal groups known to operate in Pattaya.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will visit Chon Buri on Saturday to assess the tourism situation. He intends to visit the site of a future Formula One racecourse near Khao Phra Tamnak in Bang Lamung District.

Prime Minister Srettha recently met with Formula One organisers in Italy to examine the potential of including Thailand on the race schedule in the future.

On Sunday, the Prime Minister will pay a visit to Rayong’s U-tapao airport to discuss development on the airport’s land, with the goal of encouraging investment in the Eastern Economic Corridor.

Police Chief Reinstated

In other police news, Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol has been reinstated as national police chief following the conclusion of an investigation into a highly publicised quarrel, according to Wissanu Krea-ngam, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s counsellor.

Mr Wissanu released the investigation’s findings on Thursday, after the prime minister formed a fact-finding committee chaired by Chatchai Promlert to investigate into the quarrel between Pol Gen Torsak and his deputy, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn.

The four-month study revealed conflicts and disorder at all levels of the Royal Thai Police, but it was unclear whether these issues arose from a single cause or several causes, according to Mr Wissanu.

The findings revealed that both Pol Gen Torsak and Pol Gen Surachate were involved, with each team contributing to the tensions, he noted.

Mr Wissanu indicated that Pol Gen Surachate was reinstated as deputy national police head on 18 April following his relocation to the Prime Minister’s Office on 20 March. A disciplinary committee was formed to investigate Pol Gen Surachate, and he was ordered temporarily suspended from the police force.

Because there were no further difficulties to explore, it was decided to restore Pol Gen Torsak. He plans to retire on September 30.

On March 20, Mr Srettha abruptly transferred both top police officers to the Prime Minister’s Office in an effort to address the growing schism within the police service.

Kitrat Panphet, Deputy National Police Chief, was subsequently named Acting Police Chief. According to sources, Pol Gen Surachate could face money laundering charges related to online gaming networks.

Source: Bangkok Post