A raid on a Phuket karaoke bar has revealed 2 underage teenagers being sexually exploited.
The venue, in the sub-district of Rassada, was raided by officers from the Anti Trafficking in Persons Division on Saturday, March 30, according to a Phuket Express report. During the raid, officers found children aged 13 and 14, who were allegedly being sexually exploited for money.
The raid was the result of a number of complaints from concerned citizens, who claimed the bar was sexually exploiting children for commercial gain. The authorities have not divulged the name of the venue, although the owner has been named as 39 year old Ms Sapawan, aka “Ple”, who was immediately arrested.
According to the report, during a sting operation Sapawan offered officers from the ATPD a deal that involved sexually exploitative acts with a 13 year old for 3,000 baht, plus commission of 400 baht for the bar owner.
The authorities also found a 14 year old girl drinking alcohol with adult men at the venue. The names of both children have been withheld by the media to protect their privacy and due to Thai law.
Sapawan has admitted to sexually exploiting the children for commercial gain and has been taken into custody for legal processing. The children are being taken to organisations offering them specialist assistance, according to the ATPD.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
