Thailand - Mae Hong Son to open new nature trek route with waterfalls to tourists

The Mae Hong Son Tourism Office is planning to launch a new trekking route to allow tourists to walk through a fertile forest to visit two beautiful waterfalls, an official said.

 

The nature trek route along Mae Sakued creek in Tambon Pha Bong in Muang district was on Tuesday visited by Yothin Taptimthong, director of the Mae Hong Son office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and his deputy, Atthapol Thaweesunthorn.

Yothin said the visit was made for his office to prepare a package for tourists who love nature, forests and waterfalls, to take the Huay Mae Sakued Trek.

According to Yothin, the trek is about 1,860 metres long, running along the creek and through a fertile forest with big trees.

He said the highlights of the trek are two medium-sized waterfalls, Kued Luang Waterfall and Mae Sakued Waterfall. The two waterfalls should be visited during the rainy and winter seasons, when there is an abundant cascade of water.

The nature-study trek is under the supervision of the Mae Surin Waterfall National Park and the area is protected by the third protection unit of the national park.

The entrance to the trek and the unit’s office is about 9 kilometres from Mae Hong Son’s provincial seat, with the road to the office another three kilometres along the entrance road.

Tourists can call the Mae Surin Waterfall National Park office at 053-061-073 to learn more about the trek.

Source - The Nation

#Thailand - Eight get lengthy prison terms over Mae Hong Son prostitution racket

The Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court on Wednesday found eight defendants guilty of human trafficking, underage prostitution and other charges linked to the “owl tattoo” prostitution racket in Mae Hong Son and sentenced them to imprisonments ranging from eight to 320 years. 

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 Three procurers received over 100 years behind bars – first defendant Piyawan Sukmak, 27, got a 167-year jail term, second defendant Piyathas Parpthiensuwan, 31, got a 176-year jail term and third defendant former cop Pol Senior Sgt-Major Yutthachai Thongchat, 43, got a 320-year jail term. 

 The three, however, would serve only 50 years behind bars each as the law limits maximum penalty in criminal cases to 50 years in prison.

The fourth defendant Mongkol Kiatpakdipong, 31, was given 19 years, the fifth defendant Pattamaporn In-kaew, 32, got 12 years, the sixth defendant Kanokwan Rattanapakdi, 23, got eight years, the seventh defendant Kwanhathai Reuk-Udom, 40, got 32 years and the eighth defendant Kalaya Wutthikhun, 41, got 36 years.

The eight convicts later sought release on bail pending their appeal to the upper court. During the trial, three of the suspects – Piyawan, Piyathas and Yutthachai – were denied bail and were detained at remand facilities, while the others got bail.

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Yutthachai had worked at the Nam Piang Din Police Station until the scandal broke last year, following which he was sacked along with eight other cops in the province who were put under serious disciplinary investigation after being implicated as customers of underage prostitution services. 

The case came to light because the 43-year-old mother of one of the teenage victims filed a police complaint. She remained persistent even when there was a lack of progress in the investigations for six months. She then exposed the prostitution racket to the media. 

Many state officials were subsequently implicated for buying sex services from the racket’s girls, many of whom reportedly had owl identification tattoos on the chest. 

Provincial Governor Suebsak Iamvijarn, who was transferred to an inactive post in Bangkok pending a probe result into the allegation, was later reinstated after he was cleared of any wrongdoing. According to police, one of five Nonthaburi politicians who allegedly bought sex from the girls had drunkenly claimed to be Suebsak.

Source - TheNation

 

#Thailand - Senior policeman turns himself in to face underage sex charge.

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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