Human smuggling: soldiers nabbed in Phuket

PHUKET: Two former soldiers face up to five years in jail for attempting to smuggle four Burmese illegal immigrants from Phuket to Kanchanaburi.

Immigration Police arrested Cpl Chettha Moonnam, 52, and L/Cpl Prasit Moonnam, 48, on Tuesday night.

There were four Burmese women in the back of the men’s pick-up when it was stopped at around 10pm on Thepkrasattri Road in Baan Lipon village, Tambon Srisoonthorn.

The women’s work permits had expired.

The two men told the police this was the first time they had tried to smuggle alien workers adding that the women each paid 2,500 baht to be taken to Kanchanburi.

Phuket Immigration Police Inspector Suparerk Pankosol said the two men would be charged with sheltering or aiding illegal aliens. They face up to five years in jail and/or fines of up to 50,000 baht under Thai law.

After posting land title deeds as bail, the pair were allowed to leave Thalang Police Station.

The Burmese would be fined up to 20,000 baht each and repatriated, Lt Col Supaperk said.

The women’s former employer in Rawai canceled their work permits around one month ago.

“If they want to come back to Thailand to work again they can, but they have to do it in accordance with the law,” Lt Col Supaperk said.