A woman was arrested on charges of operating a health clinic as a front for prostitution at a housing estate in Bangkok’s Bung Kum district on Thursday.
The KL Health Clinic is in a four-storey commercial building at a housing estate on Soi Nuanchan, Bung Kum. Police arrived to search the premises around 10am.
Investigatiors alleged the clinic was a front, and provided sex services for customers.
Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division and the Consumer Protection Division were involved in the raid.
They arrested Manthira Boonnipan, 35, also kown as Naiyana Boonchu, owner of KL clinic. She was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court for colluding in arranging services to satisfy the sexual desire of others, procuring people for the flesh trade, operating or serving as a caretaker of a venue for the flesh trade, and related offences.
The clinic was open Monday to Friday, from 1pm to 8pm. There were many rooms inside the building, but nobody lived in them.
Pol Col Suraphong Chartsut, deputy commander of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, said the raid followed complaints about the clinic and what went on there.
According to investigators the clinic operated a network, using nearby condominium buildings as meeting places for customers and sex workers.
An initial investigation had found no evidence of human trafficking there, but it was used for the flesh trade, Pol Col Suraphong said. Only one suspect was detained and she denied all charges. (continues below)
Police arrive at the KLHealth Clinic in Bung Kum district on Thursday. (Photo supplied/ Wassayos Ngamkham)
Pol Col Surapong said the criteria for human trafficking included use of force, illegal detention and the age of sex workers.
He said the health clinic used as a front had the required documentation and operated legally.
Social media influencer Kannarat Pongpaiboonvet, alias Gun Jompalang, accompanied the police team to the clinic.
He said a person had contacted him via his Facebook account and alleged that sex services were provided by the clinic. Video clips were also sent to him. He reported this to the police human trafficking division, which launched an investigation that led to the arrest of the owner.
Local residents said many people arrived at the clinic during daytime, but they were not aware it provided sex services. The housing estate committee had not received any complaints regarding the clinic. However, they had noticed some very expensive cars arriving at the housing estate at night.