DSI submitted its inquiry files of Myanmese trafficking victims case to public prosecutors

DSI submitted its inquiry files of Myanmese trafficking victims case to public prosecutors

       On March 1, 2021, Pol.Lt.Col.Korrawat Panprapakorn (the Director-General) and Pol.Lt.Col.Supat Thamthanarug (a Deputy Director-General) assigned 2 senior special case inquiry officials, Pol.Lt.Col.Sayan Poonpermboon and Mr.Karn Doonyalit of the Human Trafficking Crime Bureau to submit the inquiry file of the special case no.37/2563, (the case of trafficking of Myanmese nationals for forced labor in Sichon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province) to the Office of the Attorney General’s public prosecutor responsible for human trafficking cases witnessed by the staff of the International Justice Mission (IJM) Foundation, a non-profit organization. This case the Director-General decided to prosecute 7 alleged offenders in this case. The document of this case comprising 18 case files (5,652 sheets) was submitted to the public prosecutor for further legal proceedings.

       This case, on December 15, 2020, the special case inquiry officials team of the Human Trafficking Crime Bureau requested the arrest warrants of the criminal court against 7 alleged offenders committed the offence of trafficking in persons for forced labor in a fishing boat. The Myanmese victims previously requested assistance from the IJM Foundation as seen on the news. In this regard, the government has its policies and prioritized to resolve the problem of human trafficking, especially forced labor in the fishery sector, which affects the image of the nation in the eyes of various countries and the ranking of Thailand’s human trafficking situation. The government is strongly committed to addressing the human trafficking situation in Thailand for getting elevated to Tier 1 in the US State Department’s TIP Report. In addition, the Minister and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice has assigned the DSI to expedite uninterrupted suppression of human trafficking. The Director-General, therefore, has ordered the Human Trafficking Crime Bureau to take proactive measures and strictly enforce laws against human trafficking offenders.

       “In this matter, the IJM Foundation recognizes professionalism of the DSI in its persistence to investigate the complex forced labor cases and human trafficking cases in the fishery industry including the investigation into cases of local government officials involving themselves in human trafficking cases as the business owners. The IJM Foundation praises the DSI for its efforts to enforce laws and proceed the case until it is final. Protection extends to migrant workers, a vulnerable group essential to driving the economy of Thailand,” said Mr.Andrew Wasuwongse (IJM Thailand Director).

Dated March 2, 2021