December 14, 2011
NARATHIWAT, Thailand (AFP) - Police in Thailand said they had rescued 41 women from Laos on Wednesday who had been forced to work as prostitutes in a southern border town.
The 45-year-old owner of a karaoke parlour was arrested on charges of human trafficking and detention of persons under the age of 18, following a tip-off from a relative of one of the victims.
"She called her parents and asked for help. After investigation, we obtained a search warrant and raided the place. We found and rescued 41 women," said police lieutenant Komvich Padhanarath.
The women, who were working in the tourist town of Sungai Golok near the border with Malaysia, were aged between 16 and 23 years.
"They said they were told by the broker that they would come to work as waitresses with a high salary but they ended up being forced into prostitution. Their passports were seized by the owner," Komvich said.
The victims were taken to a military camp pending legal procedures. Human trafficking victims are usually deported to their home country without facing criminal charges.
Thailand is said to be a source, destination and transit point for human trafficking, with ethnic minorities and citizens of neighbouring countries at particular risk of sexual abuse or forced labour.
Sungai Golok is one of the main human trafficking destinations in Thailand, with more than 100 brothels, police said.
