Four officials under flesh-trade probe

A disciplinary action panel has been set up to investigate four state officials who allegedly took bribes from influential figures involved in the trafficking of young Lao girls in Loei province for the flesh trade. Some of the girls were allegedly minors. The officials are two immigration officers and two policemen — one is attached to Provincial Police Region 4. Their names were not given.

The four were accused of being embroiled in prostitution and human trafficking at Phu Rua Cafe, a karaoke bar, in Phu Rua district.

A probe found money was wired to their accounts from local influential figures who were allegedly linked to the illegal business.

The establishment of the panel came after the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) accepted it as a case on March 16 following a raid on the establishment in February.

During the raid, authorities also apprehended two suspects: Thaworn Sriprom, the bar owner, and Jong Somasri, a bar assistant.

Pol Lt Col Komvich Padhanarath, acting chief of the Prevention and Suppression Division 1 of the DSI’s Anti-Human Trafficking Centre, said the raid followed a tipoff that Lao girls and women, aged between 13 and 20, were procured to work as prostitutes at the karaoke bar.

Authorities expanded the investigation which implicated the four state officials.

The panel was later set up by the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission of the Justice Ministry specifically to probe the four officials.

As well as disciplinary action, legal action would be taken against them if they are found guilty of criminal offences, Pol Lt Col Komvich said, adding Ms Thaworn’s husband, who was a school director in the province, would also be summoned for questioning.

Meanwhile, DSI chief Paisit Wongmuang said fake temporary work permits, known as pink cards, had been issued for the girls that said they could work as waitresses at the bar.

The ages of the women on the cards were fake as well.

Pol Lt Col Komvich said many Lao women are lured into the sex trade in Thailand by Lao agents who often pay 20,000 baht to the families first, then force the women to work to pay off the debt.