DSI Reveals Criminal Court Sentences Mother and Daughter Karaoke Owners to 11 Years and 14 Months for Prostitution of Minors

DSI Reveals Criminal Court Sentences Mother and Daughter Karaoke Owners to 11 Years and 14 Months for Prostitution of Minors

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is publicizing the Criminal Court Judgment in Special Case No. 292/2565, where a mother and her daughter, owners of a karaoke bar in Sisaket Province, were found guilty of colluding to commit offenses related to the prostitution of girls under the age of 18.

The case originated from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) receiving information from the Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), a non-profit organization that supports law enforcement in rescuing children from human trafficking and exploitation, that they had discovered an X (Twitter) account suspected to be associated with a minor under the age of 18 who might be a victim of sexual exploitation. Furthermore, it was found that the victims linked to the X (Twitter) account were employees of karaoke bars named "My Way Oke" and " So Le Oke," located in the Kanthararak district of Sisaket province. This exploitation may constitute offenses under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, B.E. 2551 (2008). The Human Trafficking Bureau conducted an investigation as a Special Case No. 292/2565. On August 8, 2023, two offenders were apprehended: Ms. Yupa (surname withheld), 53 years old under the Criminal Court's Arrest Warrant No. 2131/2566, and Ms. Pranee (surname withheld), 31 years old, under the Criminal Court's Arrest Warrant No. 2132/2566, at the My Way Oke in Kantharalak District, Sisaket Province. The special case inquiry official team conducted investigations and proceeded with legal action against the offenders. The case file was submitted to the public prosecutor with a recommendation for indictment. The public prosecutor filed charges against the suspects in the Criminal Court on September 28, 2023, under the Black Case No. 137/2566.

In the aforementioned case, the Criminal Court has issued a judgment in the Red Case No. 97/2567, stating that both defendants jointly committed an offense under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, B.E. 2551 (2008), Sections 6 (2), 9 (first and second paragraphs), and 52 (second paragraph); the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, B.E. 2539 (1996), Sections 9 (second paragraph) and 11 (second paragraph); the Entertainment Place Act, B.E. 2509 (1966), Sections 4 and 26; the Child Protection Act, B.E. 2546 (2003), Sections 26 (3), (5), (9), and 78; the Labor Protection Act, B.E. 2541 (1998), Sections 47 (first paragraph), 50 (3), 144 (first paragraph) (1), and 48/2; the Criminal Code, Sections 282 (second paragraph), 286 (1), (2), (4), and 319 (first paragraph), in conjunction with Section 83 of the Criminal Code.

The actions of both defendants constitute multiple distinct offenses under the law. They shall be punished for each offense according to the Criminal Code, Section 91.

-      For conspiracy by two or more persons to commit human trafficking against a person over fifteen but under eighteen years of age, each defendant is sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment;

-      For jointly committing human trafficking against a person over fifteen but under eighteen years of age;

-      For giving assistance, facilitating, or protecting the prostitution of another; accepting a benefit in any form from prostitution of another; arranging prostitution between a prostitute and a customer;

-      For sexual gratification of any other person, procuring, seducing or taking away for an indecent act a man or woman, even with their consent, when the person is over fifteen but under eighteen years of age;

-      For procuring, seducing, or taking someone for the purpose of prostitution when the person is over fifteen but under eighteen years of age;

-      For jointly inducing, promoting, or allowing a child to behave inappropriately or likely to be the cause of wrongdoing. For jointly inducing, promoting, or acting in any other way which results in the exploitation of the child. For jointly using, inducing, encouraging, promoting, or allowing a child to perform or act in on indecent manner, these constitute a single offense against multiple laws. Punishment is imposed for any act that assists, facilitates, or protects the prostitution of another, arranging prostitution between a prostitute and a customer, which is the most severe offense under Section 90 of the Criminal Code, with each defendant sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment;

-      For taking a minor over fifteen but under eighteen years of age away from their parents, guardians, or caretakers for profit or indecent purposes, with the minor’s consent, each defendant is sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment;

-      For jointly owning a prostitution business with a person over fifteen but not over eighteen years of age for prostitution, each defendant is sentenced to 5 years’ imprisonment;

-      For jointly establishing an entertainment place without a license, each defendant is sentenced to 6 months’ imprisonment;

-      For being an employer and jointly accepting a child under eighteen years of age to work in an entertainment place, each defendant is sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.

-      For being an employer jointly requiring a young worker under eighteen years of age to work between 24.00 hours and 6.00 hours, each defendant is sentenced to 2 months’ imprisonment;

In total, both defendants are sentenced to 11 years’ and 14 months’ imprisonment. Both defendants are ordered to jointly pay compensation to the victim in the amount of 80,000 baht.