Human trafficking cases handed over to prosecutors

POLICE HAVE ISSUED another 30 arrest warrants for suspects in the trafficking of Rohingya and other migrants, with details and evidence handed over to Office of the Attorney-General yesterday for prosecution and other legal action, which could impact on Thailand’s international reputation.
National police chief Pol General Somyot Poompanmuang said initial arrests of suspects involved in trafficking the Rohingya had led to the discovery of mass burial sites in southern Thailand, paving the way for subsequent arrests of ringleaders of these cross-border human trafficking syndicates.
These syndicates start their operation in Myanmar and Bangladesh from where the Rohingya, political and other economic migrants were smuggled out of the countries by sea in a risky journey to Malaysia or Indonesia via Thailand, which was often used as a transhipment point. So, the masterminds are not only in Thailand but also in other neighbouring countries, he said.
Pol General Aek Angsananont, the deputy police chief in charge of human trafficking, said these cases were quite complicated with multiple incidents in various places, which were all related. With police issuing arrest warrants for another 30 suspects, the total number of suspects has risen to 119, and there are more than 300 witnesses.
With the help of other agencies such as the Office of Attorney-General and the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), he said the human trafficking cases could be wrapped up relatively quickly with charges of cross-border criminal acts and money laundering, among others.
So far, 56 suspects have already been arrested and are in police custody while the rest are still at large, including one key suspect still in Myanmar.
The AMLO has also helped police follow the money trail in busting the human trafficking syndicates with assets worth more than Bt100 million seized by the authorities, including 32 land title deeds, one luxury hotel worth Bt37 million, seven fishing vessels, Bt4 million worth of cash and 258 items of other assets.
National police chief Somyot said human trafficking cases are high on the government’s agenda, as Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-Cha’s government is worried the issue would affect the country’s economy, especially after the US downgraded Thailand’s status last year in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report from Tier 2 to Tier 3.
“Thailand is not the original point of trafficking. We’re like a stopover point for the traffickers, but we want to stamp out this illegal activity. Police, soldiers and other state officials have worked hard to achieve the results,” he said.
The US was expected to release its 2015 annual report on TIP around June 19. So far, it has not made any announcement yet.
In addition to the TIP issue, Thailand also has faced actions from the European Union concerning the so-called illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities, as Thai seafood exports to the EU could face a ban if the issue is not resolved.
Among the key suspects are Lt-General Manas Khongpaen, a senior Army adviser, the suspected kingpin who has been charged with 13 counts; Pajjuban Angchotephan, former head of Satun provincial administrative organisation, charged with 12 counts; Suwan Saengthong, businessman, Ranong province; Banjong Pongpol, mayor of Padang Besar, Song Khla province;and Malay Tohdin, head of Poo Yoo tambon administrative organisation, in Satun’s Muang district.
Among the key suspects are Lt-General Manas Khongpaen, a senior Army adviser, the suspected kingpin who has been charged with 13 counts; Pajjuban Angchotephan, former head of Satun provincial administrative organisation charged with 12 counts; Suwan Saengthong, businessman, Ranong province; Banjong Pongpol, mayor of Padang Besar, Song Khla province;and Malay Tohdin, head of Poo Yoo tambon administrative organisation, in Satun's Muang district, and Somyot Angchotephan, businessman in Satun.