Patong Police today (Aug 26) reported that officers moved in to arrest the bar operator, named only as ‘Miss Thongsai’, at the WeWe Bar in Soi Sea Dragon, off Bangla Rd, at 00:15am.
Miss Thongsai was charged for allowing an employee under 18 years of age to work in a service place and for requiring an employee under 18 years of age to work between 10pm and 6am.
Seized as evidence was a cash bill indicating the service fee for drinking as a guest, Patong Police reported, confirming that the minor was working as a hostess at the bar.
The action taken by Patong Police is part of the recently launched campaign to target venues and operators using minors to provide “services”.
The campaign, launched by Patong Police Chief Col Sujin Nilbadee, aims to “prevent human trafficking and the employment of illegal workers”, Patong Police noted in their report.
The crackdown saw the Tipsy Corner bar at the OTOP Market on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd raided by Patong Police on Thursday night (Aug 24).
The operator was found to have committed three violations regarding the employment of minors.
The raid on Tipsy Corner yesterday (Aug 24) followed officers having raided at least three massage shops on Aug 7, Aug 12 and Aug 14.