Patong porn director caught red-handed

PATONG: A Kathu Police investigations unit early yesterday morning arrested an Indonesian adult-film producer in his hotel room after he was caught conducting a photo shoot with one of his starlets – a Thai ladyboy.

Pol Sub Lt Nitikorn Rawang, duty officer of Kathu Police Station, said the bust took place at 4:20 am.

After receiving a tip-off that a video shoot was taking place in room 314 of the Sup Inn on Soi Patong Resort, the police entered the room to find it had been converted into a makeshift studio with everything needed for the production of pornography and its distribution around the world via the Internet.

Police arrested Indonesian Farisa Riyadi, 35, and took 32-year-old Thai ladyboy Phinit “Nong Ning” Lakharn, 32, for questioning at Kathu Police headquarters.

Nong Ning, from Yasothorn, who has already undergone complete gender “re-assignment” surgery, told police that she agreed to pose for the Indonesian in return for 1,000 baht cash.

Mr Riyadi offered the same payment package to other ladyboys in the Bangla area, she said.

Many accepted the offer because they needed the money. Many also had sex with other models for 3,000 baht, she said.

All of the models had to first sign consent forms and were aware that the images were intended for global distribution, she added.

Evidence seized in the raid included an electric-powered vibrator and other sexual stimulation items, a video camera, a list of customers’ names, a laptop computer with Internet connection, VCD packaging sleeves for the “Asian Thai Girl” brand, and a collection of clothes worn in productions, including cheerleader outfits and student uniforms.

The suspect was sent to Phuket Provincial Court and released after paying a fine, Pol Sub Lt Nitikorn said.

He was unable to remember the amount of the fine.

The star of the Indonesian’s current project was released without charge.

“She was just a witness in the case,” said Lt Nitikorn.