Thai, Singaporean accused of procuring women in separate cases
The Nation/Asia News Network
Friday, Jun 28, 2013
Police have arrested a Singaporean on charges of luring a Thai woman into prostitution in South Africa.
A court approved an arrest warrant for Tan Hong Huat, 56, on Monday. He was apprehended in Samut Prakan's Muang district.
"He told the victim that she would be working as a masseuse but after she travelled to South Africa, she was forced to provide sexual services," Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) commander Pol Maj-General Chawalit Sawaengpeuch said yesterday.
He said a South African, Regus, was the leader of this trafficking gang.
"We have already obtained an arrest warrant for him," Chawalit said.
Chawalit said police would gather more evidence to seek arrest warrants for Regus' alleged accomplices.
Tan denied any wrongdoing. He said he simply recommended the alleged victim to a friend without knowing that she would be forced into the flesh trade.
In a similar case, Pol Colonel Yuttaphum Panlainak, who works for the AHTD, said police arrested Prapassorn Singh in Chon Buri on Tuesday on suspicion of luring a Thai woman into the flesh trade in Bahrain.
The 26-year-old victim lodged a complaint against Prapassorn on March 6.
"The victim was also told that she would work as a masseuse," Yuttaphum said.
Prapassorn claims she did not know that the victim would have to provide sexual services, Yuttaphum said.
"There are five other accomplices. We will go after them," the officer said.
