Woman arrested over forced sex work allegation

Pavadi Kheunpetch 33, was charged by the Customs Department in Bangkok with human trafficking, Social Development and Human Security Minister Issara Somchai told a press conference at the Crime Suppression Bureau's Suppression of Human Trafficking division.

Bahrain police had rescued a young woman who claimed Pavadi and her friends lured her to Bahrain with the promise of a Bt100,000 salary for work as a receptionist at a bar.

The young woman said Pavadi covered her travel costs but after arriving in Bahrain she had been detained and forced into the sex trade.

Pavadi has pleaded ignorant, saying she used to work in Bahrain but didn't know the young woman personally. All that she knew was her friend Rattana Janhom and two other female friends invited the young woman to travel from Kanchanaburi to Bahrain.