Court hears first testimony in massage parlour case
Ratchadapisek Criminal Court in Bangkok heard testimony on Monday from seven suspects regarding alleged human trafficking and underage prostitution at the Victoria’s: The Secret Forever massage parlour, including its chief promoter who led a team of staff to woo customers, Boonsap “Pa Kob” Amornrattanasiri.
Boonsap, 55, and others are accused of conspiracy to traffic in humans by seeking profit from the prostitution of minors, and with conspiracy to procure 113 girls and women for the sex trade.
The charges apply to the period October 2016-January 2018.
All suspects on Monday denied the charges in front of the court judge, like they had maintained innocence to police investigators.
A team of officials from the Department of Special Investigation, Department of Provincial Administration and the military raided the premises on Rama IX Road in Huai Kwang district on January 12, rounding up 113 sex workers, including 92 from Myanmar and 14 from Laos.
They also found a list of police officers who had received free food, drinks and massage services there.
The list identified – usually by position rather than name – several police officers attached to Wang Thong Lang police station, which has jurisdiction over Victoria’s, and the Metropolitan Police and Immigration bureaux.