Student Prostitutes Among Seven Arrested

PHUKET TOWN: Undercover officers from the Phuket Tourist Police raided a home near Sapan Hin and arrested a 50-year-old man along with six female suspects – including two 15-year-old twins – on prostitution charges. Posing as customers, the two plainclothes officers entered the residence on Soi Tonphol, Phuket Road, shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday and inquired about sex services from homeowner Engyong Sailim. He allegedly offered the men the services of females as young as 15 years old. The undercover officers radioed to uniformed Tourist Police officers, who took Engyong and six females into custody. Under questioning at Muang District Police Station, two of the suspects, 15-year-old twins, admitted that they were students at a nearby vocational college and provided paid sexual services to cover their rent and other living expenses. The two said customers were charged 2,000 baht per session, with 500 baht going to the homeowner. The suspects told police they had each serviced only two customers prior to the raid. The underage girls, along with the four other females, aged 18 and over, were charged with prostitution. Engyong was charged with operating a place of prostitution and offering the sexual services of persons under the age of 18. If convicted of the charges, he faces five to 15 years in prison or a fine of up to 300,000 baht, or both. Last week’s raid follows a directive from Tourist Police officials in Bangkok to suppress vice activities. Recent crackdowns by Phuket Tourist Police on prostitution venues and illicit drug activities have received the support of Vice Governor Vongsak Swasdiphanich.