A man and a woman were arrested in a sting operation in the far South and charged with human trafficking and illegally detaining a Thai woman for ransom, Social Development and Human Security Minister Issara Somchai said yesterday.
Sriwan Chaisri, 36, and her driver Somkid Thongchuchuay, 47, both residents in Hat Yai in Songkhla province, were nabbed along with Bt45,000 in cash, which was allegedly "ransom evidence" at Sriwan's home in Tambon Hat Yai.
The victim's daughter alerted the Prachabodi Centre that her 35-year-old mother was lured to work at a karaoke bar in Malaysia, allegedly owned by Sriwan's husband, but was ordered to do sex work. When her mother refused to do that, the family were told to pay the gang Bt95,000 before she was released. So officials organised a sting operation to pay the "ransom" and arrested the two suspects. However, the pair arrested denied any wrongdoing. Sriwan said the payment of Bt95,000 was an agreement between her husband and the alleged victim.