The report by the CIB was released at 11.55pm yesterday (Mar 30) under the title “Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) raided a karaoke shop for prostitution involving children under 15 years of age.”
The CIB’s report did not specify the date of the raid. According to a publication by Khao Sod news outlet, the operation took place on the same day, Mar 30. The report by Khao Sod was later shared by the Phuket Info Center news page.
Pictures accompanying the official report by the CIB and the corresponding Facebook post show officials raiding a venue said to be located in the Rassada subdistrict, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Phuket City Police Station.
Photos do not show any officers from the Phuket Provincial Police. Members of the raiding party wore vests and caps emblazoned with CIB and ATPD, abbreviations for the Central Investigation Bureau and the Anti-Trafficking In Persons Division of the bureau, respectively.
Ms Saphawan (family name withheld by the CIB) was arrested during the raid as the operator of the illegal brothel. The Khao Sod report adds that Ms Saphawan is 39 years old without providing any further information about her.
Found at the premises were two underage employees – a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old, according to Khao Sod. The CIB report mentions only the former, explaining that her working duties included serving customers, accompanying them at the tables (including alcohol consumption), and providing sexual services.
For the sexual services, customers were charged B3,400, with B3,000 going to the teenage employee and B400 going to the venue, received directly by Ms Saphawan.
Ms Saphawan was arrested on six charges related to human trafficking and procuring minors for sexual services. She was then taken to “the investigative officers of Division 5 of the Anti-Trafficking In Persons Division for further legal proceedings,” according to the report by the CIB.
No comments have been made regarding an investigation of the patrons of the unnamed karaoke venue operated by Ms Saphawan or local officials who failed to notice the illegal brother in Rassada. Phuket Provincial Police have yet to publicly acknowledge the raid.