Published on August 18, 2005

Massage parlour tycoon-turned-politician Chuwit Kamol-visit yesterday confirmed the US embassy in Bangkok had denied him a visa, but dismissed suggestions it had anything to do with his standing as the country’s flesh-trade king.

Along with fellow MPs on the House committee on police affairs, the Chat Thai Party deputy leader had planned an official trip to Washington to meet with officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) last month.

Chuwit said all committee members received a visa except him.

A US embassy spokesman said he could not comment on specific visa applications.

In an interview with The Nation yesterday, Chuwit said the US denied him a visa because of his outspokenness in demanding the return of an historic Thai mask – which he described as a national treasure – from an American collector.

The committee also met with representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department to discuss riot control and the Nevada tourism authority to discuss issues pertaining to security and tourism.

Prior to entering politics a year ago, Chuwit was at the centre of a major conflict with police, whom he accused of receiving kickbacks from him for years.

The fallout with police came after he was arrested for commissioning a demolition gang to tear down an entire block of beer bars and vendor businesses on Suk-humvit Road.

The sharp-tongued MP also accused police of kidnapping and torturing him, before entering the race for Bangkok governor.

He is currently facing charges for hiring an under-age woman to work in one of his massage parlours.

The sex trade, especially among children, has become a growing issue in the US over the past decade after repeated reports about under-age prostitution and human trafficking in Asia.

Last year, Washington criticised Cambodia’s punishment of a policewoman who rescued 84 female sex-trafficking victims from a Phnom Penh brothel.

US lawmakers have over the years passed a number of laws to punish American citizens who commit sex offences while travelling or living abroad.

Sucheera Pinijparakarn, Budsarakham sinlapalavan

The Nation

Post your comment to this story here