Bangkok: The Criminal Court sentenced a mother to a total of 7 years and 6 months in prison for luring her 13-year-old daughter into prostitution in Japan.
According to Thai News Agency, the case was heard at courtroom 905 of the Criminal Court on Ratchadaphisek Road. The public prosecutor, Prosecutor for Human Trafficking Case 3, brought charges against Ms. Laksana (surname withheld). She faced charges of procuring, luring, or transporting a child under 15 years of age for indecent acts to satisfy the sexual desires of others, regardless of consent, considering the child's age, along with human trafficking charges under the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act, the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, the Child Protection Act, and Sections 282, 285, and 286 of the Criminal Code.
The case involved the defendant taking her 13-year-old daughter to Japan, purportedly for a trip, but instead coercing her into prostitution at a Tokyo massage parlor offering hidden sex services. The defendant later traveled to Taiwan for prostitution before her arrest. The victim managed to escape and sought assistance from the Tokyo Immigration Police. She is now under the care of the Paveena Hongsakul Foundation for Children and Women. The defendant admitted to the crime.
Prior to the verdict, the court noted that the defendant had no prior criminal record. She had previously worked as a massage therapist abroad, earning approximately 50,000-80,000 baht per trip over a span of 14-19 days.
The court found the defendant guilty of multiple offenses, imposing the maximum penalty under Section 91 of the Criminal Code. She received 5 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit human trafficking and 10 years for facilitating prostitution. Due to her confession and mitigating circumstances, these sentences were halved to 2 years and 6 months for conspiracy and 5 years for facilitating prostitution, totaling 7 years and 6 months of imprisonment. The court also ordered the confiscation of the defendant's mobile phone.