Local authorities inspect night entertainment places in Mae Hong Son's Pai district.
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A HIGH-RANKING police officer accused of buying the services of an underage prostitute turned himself in yesterday as local authorities in Mae Hong Son stepped up surveillance of human trafficking and vice in the province.
According
to Mae Hong Son police station superintendent Satasak Pimolthip, Chai
Prakan police station deputy superintendent Pol Lt Col Mongkol Panti had
acknowledged sexual involvement with a girl younger than 15.
It
was reported that after Mongkol was told the allegation against him,
police conducted a brief interrogation before releasing him. He is
alleged to have bought sex from the young girl brought by prostitute
provider Kwanhatai Ruekudom, who has already been arrested for human
trafficking.
Mongkol is accused of having sex with the girl in his home in Mae Hong Son while he worked in the province.
Officials in Mae Hong Son have been trying to repair the province’s
damaged reputation after a large human trafficking and sex network was
exposed there. Steps are being taken to avoid similar activity in the
future.
Mae Hong Son district chief Phisit Bunkitanan said that
local authorities held a meeting with local businesses, hotels and
restaurants to discuss prevention of human trafficking. More than 50
representatives attended.
“We need to urgently solve this chronic problem [human trafficking]
since it has already made headlines nationwide and harmed the reputation
of the province,” Phisit said.
On Friday night, the Mae Hong Son
Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office and local
authorities led a team to inspect businesses in Pai, another famous
tourist attraction.
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Source - TheNation
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