10 Laotian women arrested

CHALONG: Ten young Laotian women were arrested at around 1 pm today in Chalong. Pol Lt Teerawat Liumsuwan of Chalong Police Station said police officers spotted the women walking along Chao Fa Nork Rd, near Chalong Circle. They looked “lost and suspicious”, said Lt Teerawat, so the officers stopped them and asked for their ID Cards. They had none. “Certainly they were looking for jobs. But it is still too early to tell exactly where or what kind of work they were planning to do,” Lt Teerawat added. He said the women, aged between 18 and 21, were from Assaporn in Laos. Initial questioning had established that they arrived in Phuket on Saturday after spending three days in Nakhon Phanom where they had unsuccessfully sought work. All ten were charged with illegal immigration and are in custody at Chalong Police Station awaiting further questioning tomorrow, after which they will be transferred to the Phuket Immigration Office.