Court hears first testimony from seven suspects in massage parlour case

All the defendants continued to deny the charges filed against them in court, leading the judge to appoint the morning of June 4 to review the evidence.
The seven suspects in court were: parlour manager Satthatham “Pa Tik” Jaengchai, 67; chief promoter Boonsap, 55; Chainarong Ansuk, 54; Manas Aumthab, 48; Eknapat Jaruwatpathomkul, 29; Somchai Saeng-udon, 52; and the massage parlour licence holder Sasithorn Wirathepsuporn, 46. 
The eighth defendant is a legal entity called Amarin Onsen while Satthatham is again identified as the ninth defendant in his capacity as an authorised executive for Davis Silver Star Co. The public prosecutors on April 5 indicted nine defendants in the lawsuit for charges that included conspiracy to traffic in humans by seeking profit from the prostitution of minors, and conspiracy to procure 113 girls and women for the sex trade. The charges apply to the offences allegedly committed October 2016-January 2018. The prosecutors on April 5 objected to bail release for the defendants on the grounds of flight risk and evidence-tampering risk.
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. Several of them were later tested and confirmed as minors under 15.
Officers 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 bureau.