BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network): Three Thai nationals, two women and a man, have been arrested following a complaint from a Thai man that they tricked him into working in the sex trade in Dubai, Lt-Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, said on Thursday (Dec 8).
The Thai man – identified only by the initial “B” – said he was told he would be working as a massage therapist in Dubai, but once he arrived in the city his passport was seized and he was forced into prostitution to pay off his costs.
He was promised free food and accommodation, a free flight, and a salary of 80,000 baht (RM10,135) a month, according to the complaint against the three suspects filed with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division of Royal Thai Police.
After he arrived at a massage shop in Dubai on Nov 18 last year, a Chinese manager seized his passport, “B” told police.
He was forced into sex work to pay off a more than 70,000 baht debt he was told he owed for his travel costs.
Clients were charged 900 baht (RM110) per session and half of this fee was deducted to pay off the debt, he said. After being traded to a second massage shop, "B" was able to get help from authorities in Dubai to escape and return home. After he returned to Thailand, he filed a complaint with police.
Police identified the suspects as Janya Phuwong, 32, Nanthaporn Kullangka, 45, and Panuwat Sapsomboon, 37. They were arrested on warrants issued by the Criminal Court on Tuesday.
The trio have been charged with “colluding to commit human smuggling for prostitution, regardless of the victim’s willingness”.
Janya was arrested in Samut Prakan’s Muang district, Nanthaporn in Bangkok’s Bueng Kum district, and Panuwat in Phuket’s Kathu district.
Janya confessed to all the charges, police said. Nanthaporn told police she was paid 3,000 baht to teach Thai massage to “B”, while Panuwat said he received 10,000 baht for persuading “B” to work in Dubai.
A police investigation found more than 4 million baht circulating in Janya’s bank accounts between May and November. It also found travel information about many other people that may be her victims, Lt-Gen Jirabhop said.
