Three women arrested over 'karaoke bar child sex trafficking ring' in Thailand
Three women were arrested over an alleged child sex trafficking ring disguised as a karaoke bar in Thailand.
The suspects, Sangwan, 49, Natthanicha, 26, and Pattarawee, 38, allegedly used the venue in Ratchaburi as a front to employ underage girls as hostesses.
The minors were made to dress provocatively to attract customers before arranging sexual services.
Police stormed the three madams' homes in separate raids on September 14.
The trio were arrested on suspicion of jointly trafficking, procuring and exploiting children under 15 for prostitution, as well as profiting from child sexual exploitation.
Police said the raids came after another alleged victim, a girl under 18 who had worked at the bar, was rescued.
She claimed clients allegedly paid around 1,000 to 1,200 baht per session, with the suspects receiving a 200-baht cut from each payment.
Officers then secured arrest warrants from the court. During the bar inspection, they seized documents, including receipts for food and services, as evidence.
Police Colonel Alongkot Kotchakaew of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division said: ‘This operation stemmed from the expansion of the investigation following the rescue of the first victim.
‘This led to the exposure of child exploitation at a karaoke bar and the apprehension of all involved individuals across the entire network for prosecution.
‘During interrogation, all three suspects denied all charges.'
The rescued girl was handed over to the Ratchaburi Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security for care.
Underage prostitution is rampant in Thailand despite government efforts to curb it through strict laws and enforcement initiatives. Driven by poverty, trafficking, and lack of education, vulnerable minors are sometimes forced into the sex industry to earn money.
