THE Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is coordinating with Japanese authorities, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and NGOs in tracking down the biological mother of a 12-year-old Thai girl who was tricked into prostitution in Japan as well as members of a transnational human trafficking ring who were involved, Naewna newspaper said this morning (Nov. 8).
Pol, Lt. Col. Suravut Rangsai, DSI’s deputy director-general, said the agency is moving to investigate the unfortunate girl’s cruel mother as a special case.
This followed several media reports in Japan that in September this year this young girl filed a complaint at the Immigration Bureau alleging she was forced to work at a massage parlour.
Japanese police have arrested Mr. Masayuki Hosono, 51, who is the manager of Relax Time massage parlour located in a rented room at a building in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward near Ueno.
The girl and her mother arrived in Japan late June and she was brought to this massage parlour where she was taught massage techniques after which her mother fled back to Thailand mid-July. She had said she would return to pick her up but had in fact abandoned her there. She had to sleep on the kitchen floor and was paid a small amount of money for food.
Pol. Lt. Col. Suravut Rangsai said he had assigned the Human Trafficking Division to investigate, gather evidence, and expand the investigation into the offence under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act B.E. 2551 (2008) and its amendments. The case will be submitted to DSI’s director-general for approval to investigate as a special case under Section 21, paragraph one (1), of the Special Case Investigation Act B.E. 2547 (2004).
DSI is looking into whether the child’s mother intended to procure her for prostitution, whether she acted alone or there was a conspiracy of two or more persons to commit this crime, and whether any funds were received from prostitution.
DSI would not have to question the 12-year-old girl again as Japanese authorities had already thoroughly interrogated her. Once the testimony and evidence clearly point to human trafficking, the DSI chief will be asked to assign it as a special case after which summons will be issued for the accused to acknowledge the charges.
DSI also informed the public that procuring a child under 18 years of age into prostitution, regardless of whether the child consents or not, is a human trafficking crime punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page – A police car arriving at a crime scene. Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash
Insert – Pol, Lt. Col. Suravut Rangsai. Photo – Naewna
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