Woman claims she was not involved with teenage prostitution ring
A woman wanted in connection with a teenage prostitution ring in which girls allegedly had sex with senior officials in Mae Hong Song province has insisted she is innocent and does not know the police officer implicated in the affair.
Piyathas Parpthiensuwan, 30, said she long ago stopped being involved in prostitution and was now a divorcee with a sick child.
Piyathas said an acquaintance once asked her if she knew any girl who would have sex with a senior official.
She said she then contacted a girl, who took the job.
After Piyathas was arrested in tambon Pang Moo on November 6 last year, she was brought to meet a former police informant, who claimed that her teenage daughter was missing after being lured into prostitution by a girl nicknamed May.
Piyathas claimed she was told she would be released if she provided information implicating May in the operation.
She said she and others were subsequently charged with procuring an underage girl to work in prostitution.
She said Senior Sergeant Major Yutthachai Thongchat's name was also in the case report, despite Pang Moo not being in his jurisdiction.
Piyathas said she received a two-year suspended jail term and was fined Bt15,000 fine for that offence.
"Now my name is linked to Senior Sergeant Major Yutthachai's alleged network? I have nothing to do with him. I don't even have his personal phone number,” she said.
“If I were one of his people, why would he arrest me for prostitution procurement? I think this case has more than what meets the eye.
“I'm just a villager, so I want the media to help restore my tarnished name.”
Arrest warrants were issued for Piyathas, Yutthachai and another woman, Piyawan "May" Sukma, for allegedly luring girls aged under 18 into prostitution.