7 Thai men arrested for buying sex from underage girls

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers arrested seven Thai men, including a kindergarten director and teacher, for buying sex from young girls in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen.

The seven Thai suspects, arrested on Monday, August 26, are 57 year old Watchara, 57 year old Chitnarong, 52 year old Sirichai, 52 year old Sornphet, 39 year old Palat, 42 year old Kwanmueang, and 69 year old Phichai.

One of them was a kindergarten director and another a teacher but police did not release their names to the public.

The first two suspects were found to have sexually assaulted minors under the age of 15, leading to imprisonment of five to 20 years and a fine of 100,000 to 400,000 baht under Section 277 of the Criminal Law.

The third suspect faces life imprisonment, imprisonment from seven to 20 years, or a fine from 140,000 to 400,000 baht for sexually assaulting a minor under the age of 13, also under Section 277 of the Criminal Law.

The remaining suspects were charged under Section 318 of the Criminal Law: sexually assaulting a minor aged over 15 but under 18. The penalty is imprisonment from two to ten years and a fine from 40,000 to 200,000 baht.

Their arrests followed the arrest of 26 year old woman Wantananon in February. Wantananon was found to be pimping out young girls who lived near her in Khon Kaen province. Wantananon confessed that she used to offer sex services abroad and decided to run a prostitution ring when she returned to Thailand.

Two other suspects, Daorueng and Sittiporn, were arrested around the same time for their involvement in child prostitution. Six young girls were rescued in this case.

Police investigated to arrest the customers who bought sex services from Wantananon. Three customers were arrested in the same month, including a retired teacher named Pichai, a primary school director named Poj, and Noppachai.

Further investigation and questioning of the six young girls led to the arrest of the seven suspects on Monday. The retired teacher Pichai was among them. Officers had just discovered him buying sex services from two girls in the case.

According to the police report, six suspects confessed to their illegal actions, while Watchana denied all allegations.