Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) apprehended a couple in the Isaan province of Loei on charges of operating an illicit karaoke bar and engaging in human trafficking. As a result of their actions, three young women from Laos were rescued from prostitution.
The CIB acted upon a tip-off indicating that a Thai couple had transformed their Loei province restaurant into an unauthorized karaoke establishment that provided sexual services to customers. They had managed to lure more than ten Laotian women into prostitution, some of whom had entered Thailand unlawfully and most lacked proper work permits.
According to the CIB, the couple was charging customers between 1,500 and 2,000 baht for sexual services, deducting 500 baht from the fee and delivering the remainder to the Laotian prostitutes. During their operation, officers also discovered three Laotian girls aged 17 to 18 at the site and brought them to the police station for further assistance as victims of human trafficking.
Subsequently, the couple admitted to their illegal activities, resulting in the following charges:
- Violation of Section 6 of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act: Profiting from prostitution involving individuals over 15 years of age but under 18 years of age. The penalties include imprisonment for six to 15 years and a fine ranging from 600,000 to 1.5 million baht.
- Contravention of Section 9 of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act: Procuring, enticing, or inducing individuals over 15 years of age but under 18 years of age into engaging in prostitution. This offense carries a sentence of five to 15 years in prison and a fine of 100,000 to 300,000 baht.
- Breach of Section 11 of the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act: Owning a prostitution business that involves individuals over 15 years of age but under 18 years of age. The penalties for this violation consist of imprisonment for five to 15 years and a fine of 100,000 to 300,000 baht.
