Pattaya has been dubbed one of the largest sex tourism destinations in the world, and for good reason. Thousands of prostitutes ply their trade on the coastal town, and the 24/7 hedonistic lifestyle attracts men from all over the world.
But Pattaya has an even darker side, and authorities all over the world are becoming increasingly concerned with the volume of sex offenders living and operating in Pattaya.
A recent report by the Human Help Network Foundation Thailand (HHN) has reiterated the cause for concern by highlighting the vulnerability of street children:
Child prostitution in Pattaya will flourish as long as the number of homeless children – both Thai and foreign – remains high and they continue to be exploited by sex tourists and parents who sell their children into the trade.
Rather than working via go-go bars as previously, children coaxed into the sex trade now roam the streets at night or shopping malls in the day and approach prospective clients themselves, Kanjanas said. In some cases poor parents introduce their children to clients.
There are around 25,000 street children, both Thai and migrant, known to the HHN in Thailand, with up to 2,000 of them based in Pattaya. There is also a large but unspecified number of children under parental care but suffering poverty, and thus at risk of being lured into child prostitution.
To someone living outside of Pattaya this might appear to suggest that child sex is being sold openly on the streets, which is certainly not the case, Most children on the street are with their parents selling chewing gum, shining shoes or helping in the family business of street selling trinkets to tourists. Not selling sex… at least not out on the street.
But the fact is the number of homeless children is on the rise, as is the number of sexual offences against children by western males.
Many Pattaya expats argue that the statistics are exaggerated, and that this is a typical western media exaggeration, targeted at further tainting the reputation of Thailand's sin city.
But with over 400 children residing at the Pattaya orphanage, many of whom have been victims of child abuse while living on the streets of Pattaya, it seems the crime is more prevalent than ever.
To dig a little deeper I decided to do some research on western men arrested on child sex charges in Pattaya in the last 5 years. I predicted this would be an hour's work or so, but three hours later, I was still unearthing new cases. The results speak for themselves.
Pattaya Pedophile Cases:
Bear in mind that these are well-documented cases where evidence to prosecute was immediately available, or because a case had been built using surveillance. This list doesn't represent day to day complaints or reports, or arrests based purely on suspicion.
One would think a high profile sex tourist destination like Pattaya would be a difficult place for a pedophile to operate; police everywhere, authorities on the look out for wanted offenders.
But in reality, amidst the protection of pimps and corrupt officials, who can be bought off with bribes, there's no shortage or middle men willing to make a buck on the transaction of a child.
This list is by no means exhaustive.
May 2016:
DSI officers and local police arrest Mr George Tower in a house in the Fa Mai Pratu Kom community in the Suriyawong Road area of Hai Ya sub district, Chiang Mai.
The 73-year-old man from the UK was charged with having sex with a person under 13 and molestation of a child under 15. The charges were denied and he was detained.
Police found a computer in the house with an obscene video clip of a male child, and a an obscene CD. These were taken into evidence and forensics scoured the man's bedroom for traces of sperm and other evidence.
August 31, 2015:
64-year-old British national Simon Jeremy Merington Briscore was arrested at his house in Chiang Mai's Mueang district, after two 16-year-old boys filed complaints with police that the Briton failed to honour his promise to pay them Bt500 each for sex.
Police also found a substantial amount of pornography of underage boys on his computer.
October 10, 2014:
Mr.Mariolle Arnaud Jean Nicoias, aged 46, from France, is arrested having sex with a 14 year-old girl in the Live In Mansion. He said he had paid 700 Baht for the girl to a woman in front of Mike Shopping Mall. At the scene the officials found the supplier, Mrs.Prapaporn Sawangram, aged 37, who was arrested by officials before raiding the room which contained Mr.Mariolle Arnaud Jean Nicoias.
While at the residence, officials went to inspect another room and found drug addicts Mr.Samreng Ayamueng, aged 38, and Ms.Atchara Wichaiwong, 23, who were also having sex.
Mrs.Prapaporn confessed that Mr.Mariolle asked her to procure the girl, whom she had recently met, in exchange for the money and a place for her friends to have sex.
November 2013 (Conviction update):
US expat Gregory Miller, from Madison, Wisconsin, sentenced to 38 years imprisonment for sexually assaulting a nine year old boy on ten occasions between January and June 2012.
In passing sentence the presiding Judge said that Miller's repeatedly sexually assaulting such a young child justified an extremely harsh sentence. The sentence is one of the highest ever imposed in Thailand for this type of offence – the maximum penalty for the offence is life imprisonment.
Miller is suspected of sexually assaulting at least five other boys, all under the age of 12. Following his arrest evidence came to light that Miller was stalking young boys and video taping them at school functions. Full story here.
November 2013:
Officers arrest 50 year old Australian Mr. Ben Agame Ofar, accused of 4 counts of sexual assaulting a minor aged 11 years old. The warrant stated that the suspect is accused of sexually assaulting his girlfriend’s daughter who is aged 11 years, 4 times over the period of his 6 month-relationship with the victim’s Mother.
The girl allegedly told her neighbours that she had been repeatedly raped by her Australian stepfather, Mr. Ben, on at least four occasions. Mr. Ben then threatened her not to tell anyone, including her mother, about the assault. The investigation also revealed that Mr. Ben had previously been accused of raping girls aged under 15 on other occasions.
October 2013:
British born Ray Teret, ex-chauffeur for disgraced sex offender Jimmy Savile (British celebrity, now deceased), arrested in Pattaya for historic sexual offences against children Full story here.
June 2013:
Police arrest Mr. Gaston Roger Maurer from Switzerland. The 62 year old was charged with serious sexual offences to a number of underage boys. He had been under investigation after receiving reports from victims’ families who learned that a ladyboy had lured them into providing sex with the man. The boys were paid 250 baht each and the ladyboy got the rest of the money. Full story here.
Feb 2013 (2 arrested):
Pattaya police arrest German Karl Josef Ruppel, 69, and Briton Andrew John Tracey, 60. Ruppel was taken into custody at the Rina Lodge, where he allegedly paid a 14-year-old boy 200 baht for oral sex.
Investigators alleged the German had found the boy at Chaimongkol Temple. Tracey was arrested at his house in Bang Sarary where he’d allegedly been taking underage boys he picked up in Pattaya shopping malls, paying them 300-500 baht for sexual services.
October 2012:
Infamous Pattaya resident and British pedophile William Goad, 68, accredited with some 3,500 cases of child sexual abuse dies in Albany Prison on the Isle of Wight in the U.K.
Goad was arrested in Britain in 2004 after returning from Pattaya, Thailand, where he had been living comfortably in exile under a false passport .In Pattaya he lived with two Irish travellers, aged 15 and 16, whom he had known for several years, and he paraded them around gay haunts in Boyz Town and Sunee Plaza. Full story here.
June 2012:
Mr. Gregory Miller, aged 48, an American citizen working as a language teacher at an international school in Rayong. Mr. Gregory was accused of sexually assaulting boys aged 10-15 years at his house on several occasions.
The boys were paid 200-500 Baht each time. The police followed-up the case and arrested Mr. Gregory Mill at his house where they found tissue paper with semen stains and obscene pictures of the teacher and the boys.
Feb 28 2012:
Police received a call in the early hours of Sunday morning that a foreign man was molesting a young boy in a car parked on Soi 4 off Pratamnak Hill. Officers were sent to investigate and found the Toyota Vios parked in a dark area of the street.
Inside, on the back seat was Mr. Norman Wallis in the act of seducing a young 13 year old boy. Police confronted Wallis aged 79 from England and arrested him.
According to Wallis, he paid 700 baht to the boy as requested when they met at a local shopping mall. He further stated that he was not aware that having sex with an underage person was illegal in Thailand. Full story here.
Jan 2011:
Police arrest David Charles Taylor, a 66 year old British man wanted for abusing kids, some just infants, and selling pornography on line internationally.
He led the Thai police to his apartment where there was a stack of porn and indecent images of young children on his computer.
They included Thai boys under thirteen and several other nationalities. Police say some of his customers were European residents of the resort city. Full story here.
Feb 2011:
Pattaya, officers organised the apprehension of foreign child abuse offender, Mr. Roderick William Robinson, 73, of British nationality. Pol. Col. Shusak Phanatamphorn remarked that Mr. Robinson committed numerous sexual abuse offences on a girl on 14th February 1988 in England then escaped to stay in Australia.
Later, on 16th January 1989, he again sexually abused a child and was arrested by Australian police. After obtaining bail, Mr. Robinson absconded to hide in New Zealand where he continued to offend repeatedly before escaping to hide in Portugal in 2010.
Feb 2011:
Police arrest a Norwegian pedophile at his own business residence after receiving a report from local residents to investigate his acts in having sex with the underage girls. Mr. Karstein Abrahamsen, 66, Norwegian national opened the door and police found a girl, Miss Duen (alias), 17, in the room. Both were naked. The police also found condoms (used and unused) which they kept as evidence.
March 2011:
Karl Erik Berglund, 60, a Swedish national is charged on multiple counts of sexual abuse after having had sexual relations with underage boys in Pattaya, Thailand.
October 2010:
Police arrest Mr. Hugo Stephen Leuthold, age 80 years from Switzerland in an apartment in Soi Honey Inn, off Soi Buakao with a 12 year old boy in his room.
The police had been following Mr. Leuthold for a while as he was suspected of being a pedophile and had been seen in the company of little boys and disappeared with them before. This time, he convinced the 12 year old boy do sexual favours for him and he agreed to pay the boy 500 Baht. Full story here.
August 2010:
Police arrest Mr. Oystein Larsen 60 from Norway and a Thai girl, Miss Fa (16) in a compromising position.Investigations found that Mr.
Larsen had taken Miss Fa back to his hotel having agreed to pay her for sexual services in South Pattaya. Miss Fa subsequently acknowledged that Mr. Larsen had propositioned her to have sex with him before taking her back to his hotel room.
July 2010:
Mr. Mikhail Pletnev, 53, a Russian national and renowned musician is arrested facing charges of committing indecent sexual acts with a minor under the age of 15. Officers found several hundred files, photos and videos on his home computer of child pornography and images of indecent acts with underage children.
January 2010:
Police arrest French national Jean Eric Lopez, 47, after the DSI’s Bureau of Foreign Affairs and Transnational Crime was informed by representatives of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Thailand and French national police based at the French Embassy in Thailand that Mr Lopez ran entertainment venues offering underage male sex for hire and that he abused children.
July 2009 (2 arrested):
In their efforts to crack down on sexual perverts and pedophiles that prey on young children in Pattaya, police arrested German pedophile Gerhard Heiner Gatsche and British born Robert Horsman, aged 46, from Saxmundham who also lived in the same Rungrueang Village on Soi Khaotalo. Horsman has been arrested twice before for sexual acts with young boys and denied the charges, getting off with a couple of fines. Full story here.
March 2009, (3 arrested):
Thai authorities announce the arrest of Australian national, Richard Jeremy Morrush (68), Italian national David Costa Ruggero (60) and one other man, charged with child sex offences following an international investigation involving law enforcement agencies from three countries.
July 2008:
Pattaya police arrested an ageing American man accused of having sexually abused his adopted 5-year-old daughter for two months, after the mother and relatives had reported the matter to the police.
On the afternoon of July 17, mother, Miss Orn-anong Prom-toe, managed to see her daughter at Mr. Vinum's house and was told by daughter Ploy that, during the night, Mr. Vinum usually rubs his sexual organ on hers and had forced her to perform oral sex. Discovering the truth, Miss Orn-anong demanded her daughter back, but Mr. Vinum refused, so she then reported the matter to the police. Full story here.
May 2008:
At around 4:30 on Friday morning police brought a 46-year-old British national, Mr Andrew John Gallacher, back to the Soi 9 station after finding him engaged in illegal sexual activities at his home with a 16-year-old Thai male.
Police claim Mr Gallacher had picked up the boy in the Soi Sunee Plaza area of South Pattaya and brought him back for the purposes of sex and a promise of 500 baht. At the station police asked Mr Gallacher to open his computer, which had been brought back when he was arrested.
On the computer were a large number of photos of young Thai males in various stages of undress, leading police to the conclusion that this was not the first time Mr Gallacher had engaged in sexual activities with local boys.
March 2008 (3 arrested):
Thai police arrest Finnish citizen Ilkka Ylikojola, British national Stephen James Ellison and American Glenn Richard Allen. Child pornography and video equipment for making more porn were reportedly found in the three men's separate apartments. Full story here.
March 2008:
The Daily Mail covers the story of Maurice Praill, 77, from Harold Hill, Essex, UK. The step-father of former Ireland international footballer Jon Goodman was arrested after police investigators saw the boy being delivered to his rented home on a motorcycle side-car.
Thai police were called in after a member of Child Protection Centre passed on complaints from the parents of the eight-year-old boy. Mr Praill has a long history of child sex abuse in Pattaya. Full story here.
December 2008 (4 arrested – 20 more under surveillance):
Under Operation Naga, a joint investigation between the UK's Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) and the Royal Thai Police. Police arrest Malcolm Payne, 59, and Robert Horsman, 45, both from Britain, as well as 62-year-old American Robert Lond and 66-year-old German Fritz Blattner. The operation implicates 20 foreign pedophiles under Thai Police surveillance. Full story here.
May 2007: Police arrest German citizen Mr. Emil Bernnuer, 68. He was charged with pedophilia in Germany in 2005, but before his sentencing escaped to live in Pattaya, Thailand. He was sentenced to ten months in prison with sexual offender counselling. Full story here.
**Two other notable high profile cases I came across pre 2008:
October 2005:
Bernard Scullion, 53, thought he had escaped the full weight of the law by fleeing Britain while on licence. But the father of his 13-year-old victim, a Wirral businessman, would not let the matter rest.
Mr X, whose name was withheld to protect his daughter, used a network of contacts to seek leads on Scullion's whereabouts, and having traced him to Thailand hired a German investigator to provide an exact location.
“My investigator found him getting drunk in the bars of Pattaya every night,” said the victim's father. “He had been beaten up in one of them after they'd found out he'd taken a 13-year-old girl home with him.” Full story here.
Feb 2003:
Finally, after a long history of sexual predatory, Thomas Frank White, the San Francisco multimillionaire is held in Bangkok Remand Prison. Two months after his FBI warrant was issued, Thai law enforcement authorities say White took up residence in the resort area of Jomtien Beach in Pattaya, Thailand, about 68 miles south of Bangkok. A videotape obtained by The Chronicle at the time showed him frolicking with boys at the beach and touring a school and shelter he apparently funded. Full story here.
The Disturbing Views of Pattaya Expats
The list goes on and on…And just as disturbing as this list are some of the comments I came across on forums while conducting my research, particularly those supporting sex with girls of 14, 15 and 16. I am a little cautious about posting such comments on my blog, but here's just a couple to give you an idea:. I quote:
Big fan of teens myself,why not go for a girl in her prime? in-fact I can't remember the last time I barfined a girl over the age of 18. These days one has to look a little harder to find the ‘little deadly demon'. 20 years ago, certainly, 15 was common in Soi Cowboy. Happy days! – Littleron
Less than a decade ago nearly all the girls in BKK go-go bars were 18 and UNDER. many as young as 14 and 15. i'm sure Pattaya was no different. it was perfectly acceptable then. – FedUpFarang
In addition to such comments, a recent topic trending on ThaiVisa.com reveals a worrying blockade of denial from Pattaya expats, with the majority denying that pedophilia exists any more than it does anywhere else in the world. Many posters outrightly accuse the HNN report as complete lies, and a fabrication of the truth to create jobs for NGO workers.
Got a case you want to add to the list? Email me.
Pierre says
There is no streetchild in Pattaya. Not a single one. This blog must be a joke. 37 cases in 13 year. In Finland alone, (10 times less population than in Thailand) there is 1200 cases every year, and Finland I think, is not the biggest pedofile-county in the world.
Nov 29, 2016 at 8:06 am
TheThailandLife says
I think you must be joking. I’ve been in Pattaya numerous times and witnessed the problem for myself. I’ve also spoken with those who work in organisations that help vulnerable children and women. Do some research. Pattaya has a serious problem with street children, many abandoned by their parents and then exploited in various ways.
Here’s a few links to start with.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY8Ms4E_kQs
http://www.slum-kids.org/
http://www.thepattayaorphanage.org/or/?page_id=8
https://www.helpalliance.org/projekte/human-help-network-foundation-thailand-2/?lang=en
Nov 29, 2016 at 3:07 pm
Allan Wacksidaa says
A remark that plays a huge role in Thailand, is the incompetence of the authorities.
I happen to know one of these cases, as I was interpreting the accused foreigner in the case.
At the end the prosecutor dropped the case, as the police work was nothing but a disaster, and it was obvious that the accused person was completely innocent.
But in the eyes of the public, after the media coverage, he will always remain guilty. His name is still listed here too.
Sad, but true: Thai police is mostly a bunch of incompetent corrupted thugs. Many crimes go not prosecuted, and too many innocent people are behind bars; some of them die before they are cleared.
Aug 22, 2016 at 6:48 pm
King Bee says
The age of consent for prostitutes in Thailand is 18.
Anyone having sex with girls under that age in Thailand deserves to go to prison there & you’ll find out what the “Bangkok Hilton”, or similar establishment, is like.
Aug 10, 2016 at 12:49 pm
Martin1 says
No! I think the age of consent is 21! And: prostitution is illegal in Thailand!
And I think there is a big difference if s.b. has sex with s.b. “under age”, or with a child!
A big difference to me!
To open your eyes: I am a bad guy, making love to my GF (she: 15 yo at that time) when I was 15 yo, too.
May 28, 2017 at 2:43 am
Chris says
How are you a pedo if the person is over 13? Half the cases you state are not even pedos. Though they may be, but anyone who has sex with teenagers is not. Pretty sure its called something different.
Feb 11, 2016 at 7:21 pm
TheThailandLife says
True. A pedophile is someone who is attracted to pre-pubescent children.
Feb 12, 2016 at 12:45 pm
Ken says
You are correct of course, Chris, but unfortunately these days most people don’t make that distinction, at least not here in the USA. The truth is (as TTL said) a pedophile is a person who is only attracted to children who have not yet reached puberty, and these people have a psychological illness which alters the normal sex drive (this does not excuse their behavior though). It is simply not normal to be sexual attracted to children. It IS however perfectly normal and natural to be sexually attracted to women who have reached puberty. In fact, this is exactly what nature intended. And the only reason we don’t act on these urges (at least I don’t) is out of respect for the parents and because its against the law in our modern society.
The age of consent actually varies from 13 to 20 though depending on were you find yourself in the world and there is no right or wrong place to draw that line as long as it above puberty. It’s purely a matter of personal opinion. And this is why the current laws on this subject are so insane here in the USA. For example, if some 19 year old guy is dating a 17 year old girl here, not only could he be thrown in jail for many years, but when he got out he would be put on the national sex offender list for THE REST OF HIS LIFE! This guy would basically be lumped in with rapists and pedophiles simply for having consensual sex with his girlfriend. He would not be allowed to live near or even go near a school or play with children despite the fact that he is in no way, shape, or form, a pedophile. And when he moved into a new neighborhood all his neighbors would be made aware that he was a sex offender, not to mention prospective employers. Of course they would not know that he actually did not do anything morally or ethically wrong.
Anytime you have consensual sex with a minor here it is automatically considered to be rape. This is the most insane thing I have ever heard in my life and it really makes me think that all my countrymen have gone totally and utterly mad. It just boggles the mind.
In Europe however, not only are the ages of consent generally lower, but the laws are more sane and rational in that the state often has to prove that the minor was coerced or taken advantage of in some way. In the USA however nobody under that arbitrary age of 18 is considered competent to give consent to have sex under any circumstances so it is automatically rape and the coercion is implied if the other person is over 18. Of course this is not often enforced unless the parents make a complaint but if they do it can destroy a young mans life.
All I can say is I’m just glad that I’m not in my 20’s today because when I was that age I occasionally went out with girls who were under 18 and if I did that today it could potentially ruin my entire life. Also, if a young man from here should move to some country with a younger age of consent, such as France, and he dated a French girl who is underage in the USA but legal over there he could still be charged with statutory rape back in his own country. That is like me going to Germany and driving 100MPH on the Autobahn (which is perfectly legal there) and then being charged with speeding when I get back to the USA. It’s absurd.
Back to Thailand though, I really have no respect for anyone who pays for sex with very young girls (or boys) in Thailand and I believe that every girl should have to be an adult before engaging in prostitution. So the laws that prevent underage prostitution are a good thing in my estimation. And anyone who pays for sex with an underage girl should probably have to face the consequences. And pedophiles should be locked up for good because they simply cannot stop themselves and our children have to be protected from them.
Apr 17, 2016 at 3:13 pm
Robert Smart says
Ridiculous age of consent in USA not based on human physiology but probably has its roots in these insane rapture ready Christian evangelistic escapologists?
Oct 27, 2016 at 7:54 pm
Martin1 says
Yeah, yeah …
Those Muslim Evangelistics will stone you to death when you make sex with any woman you are not married to, or with any boy/male!
May 28, 2017 at 2:45 am
kelvin says
watch the Whistle Blower
Feb 03, 2016 at 6:01 pm
livewire says
I would also like to comment on Eric T’s analysis of NGO’s in Thailand and the corruption involved in Human Trafficking.
The issue is not a problem of the Thai Government or the RTP as Western governments must share the blame equally by providing inducements to arrest their citizens.
I have discovered through extensive research and have clear evidence that the most notorious of these NGO’s, Anti Human Trafficking Children’s Center (ATCC) is not in fact an NGO at all. In fact ATCC is NOT and NGO, is NOT a Natural Person and NOT a Juristic person under the law. In fact ATCC is just a “name for a group of people” Sounds strange???
ATCC website has previously claimed to be part of FACE Foundation a legally registered NGO in Bangkok and its Director Parison Noja is a board member of FACE. Both of these statements are utter lies and a quick review of the FACE Foundation legal registration documents will prove it and the website has now been changed to eliminate any reference to FACE.
Further, ATCC Director Parison Noja claims to operate a children’s center in need of your donations and he has obtained the backing and collaboration with the United States Department of Homeland Security Investigation and 9 other western Governments including Austria, France, Switzerland, England, Netherlands, Germany,Sweden, Japan and Australia. And these are only the ones we have found evidence to support. There appears to be no legal authorization for Parison Noja to operate a children’s center of any kind!!!????
Furthermore, Parison Noja displays signs bearing FACE and ATCC logo throughout his facility and on banners when receiving “donations” from these “well meaning” governments. OR ARE THEY WELL MEANING??
What is more strange is if ATCC is NOT a natural person or Juristic person, who or what runs the facility, collects the donations, has a bank account and where does the money really go????? AND MOST IMPORTANTLY HOW AND WHY DOES ATCC EXIST.
HOW IS IT THAT RTP ACCEPT AND ISSUE A WARRANT BASED UPON A COMPLAINT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL THAT IS NOT A LEGAL GUARDIAN??
The answer is simple when you consider that western governments are willing to contribute large sums of money to have their citizens arrested for public relation purposes to show they are fighting what we all agree to be a hideous crime.
Of course leave it up to the United States Department of Justice to find a way to corrupt the system. To motivate most people in business to work extra hard, you offer a bonus for good performance. Of course, western governments cannot publicly offer a bounty. So how do western governments provide incentives to local level law enforcement.
The answer is simple. “HYPOTHETICALLY” We create a fictitious NGO with a fictitious Children’s Home and launder money through this fictitious enterprise to affect results we need. OR IS THIS NOT HYPOTHETICAL!!!
Of course the intention is well meaning but the execution is illegal. A more serious problem arises when the NGO and local level police decide they want more “inducements” they can regardless of the facts, make up any story and accuse a foreigner and the result will be a reward from their own government. The back side opportunity is to wait six months and extort 1,000,000 baht and make him leave the country. CASE CLOSED.
This is in fact what has occurred in the case against Mr. Hobbs.
Further, the case against the late American Greg Miller who died a few days ago while in prison after his appeal was denied. The same individuals, “FAKE NGO”, RTP and FBI were involved in Mr. Millers case which is believed to be a total fabrication.
Further, the case against British citizen Ian Tracy who was detained in Thai prison for 16 months and was subsequently proven innocent by the Supreme Court involved the same group of sinister people. In this case the boy stated under oath the police paid him 200 baht to lie to prosecutors.
If these cases sound all too familiar, they should and it should worry EVERYONE!!
So to Eric I say your comments are very close to the heart of the problem but as I had previously assumed the NGO was a legal entity and western governments law enforcement acted in accordance with our laws.
Feel free to review http://www.strandedinthailand.com for some further information.
Jul 17, 2015 at 9:22 pm
Genaro says
I am a university researcher and I got some evidence-based data on ‘paedophiles’, I found 4 foreigners convicted and incarcerated for child sex offences in BKK and PATT. Not clear what the reason is, but Eric’s hypothesis makes sense.
Eric, I would be interesting to know where these several known karaoke bars in BKK, and Pattaya or “full of minors and local clients” are located. If you are talking about 16-17 year old minors I believe they do exist. But I’m very curious to find out about entertainment bars that keep minors below 15 years as I don’t believe they exist. You can contact me right away
Jan 24, 2015 at 9:50 pm
don says
i spent many years in udon thani and thai local use a brothal normaly stocked with underage girls… have seen this many times and in fact this is very normal for thais away from the tourist areas….. i also spent time in prison there and believe me, most westener acused of being pedos, were not….
May 26, 2015 at 2:43 am
TheThailandLife says
The fact remains that Pattaya has proven itself over the years to be a hub of pedophile activity. I’m not saying Thais aren’t complicit in many of these cases, but the stone cold facts are there.
May 26, 2015 at 10:51 pm
Dave says
This comment raises the issue that no one seems willing to address. The legal age of consent in Thailand is 15 years of age. (Sec. 212 T.C.C.) Now, there ARE additional age prohibitions for offenses involving prostitution, provided it can be established. However, having sex with a 17 year old person in Thailand is NOT, per se, illegal. Neither is it a crime in NY, Canada, or the UK (provided that it occurs in those jurisdictions). Why would you label a man who has sex with a 17 year old a “pedophile,” in any case? (Feb 11 posting, above). It is not clinically or legally correct. I worked on the US Embassy legal help list, assisting US Nationals in legal trouble in Thailand. I can tell you it is simply a matter of money and the case is dismissed, no matter how young. Wake up and smell the coffee, folks. I see the calls for establishing — through data — the fact that the local (Thai) sex trade is fueled by underage persons (those below 15). There is no data to this effect, as it is illegal. Anyone who has been around knows that there is some truth to the claim, sadly. Let’s get to work on busting *real* pedophiles, and not those running around with late-teen bar girls, shall we?
Jun 28, 2015 at 7:05 am
lionel hurst says
In Australia the age of consent is 16 years so it would be easy for an Aussie to go to a country where the age is higher and get busted. On the other hand, whenever US warships berth in Australia it is a common sight to see girls aged 13, 14 and15 fully made up and in heels crowding the docks waiting for a US sailor to take them out and give them a good time. The local authorities seems to turn a blind eye to this behaviour as they do to underage drinking and drug use.
Feb 03, 2016 at 9:05 pm
Eric T. says
As an ex Pattaya resident of 13 years, I can tell you that Thaivisa forum members are indeed right and why you’re wrong.
Child sex trade in Thailand is far lower than in those days of 80s and 90s and actually almost vanished comparing to other top destinations, and yes – NGOs are also there to make money out of it and many times spreading false data.
3 points you haven’t paid enough attention to:
1. You haven’t taken into account the extortion business derived from Pattaya being a top sex destination in a poor country with a market of billions $$.
Many Thai individuals, with the help of corrupt officers are making great money out of blackmail cases. That happens much more frequently than you can imagine and it’s kind of a lottery ticket for locals, an attractive game where they cannot lose.
2. You digged those cases from the internet, most before any conviction. Beside the fact that anyone could find at least same amount of cases for every modern western country on Google – remember that Thailand is still a corrupted country where one can’t trust justice and where many police officials are no more than criminal in disguise. An arrest is many times just a (good) mean to promote extortion.
3. It’s well known that in south east Asia the biggest majority of pedophiles are local Asians who openly solicit minors (usually girls) in karaoke bars and brothels (the worst of them believe that sex with a 12 years old can cure harsh diseases, while actually infect those innocent girls with their diseases).
Next time before you trust those NGOs, maybe you research a little bit how many LOCALs they have trapped and brought to justice comparing to the number of foreigners they have found. I’m sure the truth will shock you with the knowledge they are not really after saving the children, but after publishment and money.
Those NGOs are responsible behind the scenes to many high profile cases motivations. They are after more donations, Thai people are after money/compensation/extortion (you name it), and they’re all happy. from there no need to explain how easy it is to build traps and fabricate cases.
–
Dec 21, 2014 at 5:00 am
TheThailandLife says
I’ll address your points one by one:
1. I’ve read loose rumour talk of blackmail cases on forums, usually in response to “another” pedophile being caught in Pattaya. But I’ve lived in Koh Samui, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok, and I’m yet to come across a foreigner, or a foreigner who knows someone, who has been blackmailed in this way by Police or any other person in a position of authority.
Are you saying this blackmail is limited only to Pattaya residents? Seems strange…
The fact is; for a charge and subsequent case to be put forward for trial against a suspected pedophile in a Thai court of law, he/she needs to be caught either red handed in a sex act with a minor, or there needs to be physical evidence of abuse for the case to be put forward.
The cases highlighted here are of men who have been caught procuring children for sex, or caught performing sexual acts with children. The large majority of these cases were part of long-term surveillance and/or work under the Thai Child Protection Act 2003 by Thai Police, Thai child protection division and NGOs like UNICEF.
Wait, don’t tell me, UNICEF is corrupt! That amazing organisation that helps millions of children escape abuse every year.
I can’t quite see why you are attempting to defend or deflect the seriousness of these cases. Can you tell me which of the listed cases you think is a stitch up?
2. “Beside the fact that anyone could find at least same amount of cases for every modern western country on Google”
That point isn’t a valid argument because Western countries would have massively more western people in them. So let’s look at it this way instead: Find me a town in the western world with a similar population to Pattaya that has the same volume of convicted Western pedophiles as Pattaya. The reality is that these pedophiles are travelling to Pattaya from these countries to commit their abhorrent crimes.
3. You say:
“It’s well known that in south east Asia the biggest majority of pedophiles are local Asians who openly solicit minors (usually girls) in karaoke bars and brothels (the worst of them believe that sex with a 12 years old can cure harsh diseases, while actually infect those innocent girls with their diseases).”
I don’t know if this is true, but this post was about Western pedophilies in Pattaya. Anyway, it’s an interesting claim; do you have any evidence to back it up? I’d like to see some statistics.
Cheers.
Dec 21, 2014 at 11:34 am
Eric T. says
Your problem, as your article shows,is that you automatically believe the words of police/authorities and media and take them as a final facts, partly because you feel you have nothing better to rely on, and partly due to lack of knowledge on how that dirty industry really works behind the scene.
So maybe you don’t know but I do, and really well.
As already said, I’m here just to shed light on aspects you haven’t paid enough attention to IMHO. I’m not trying to say pedophilia is over in Thailand, only that it has reached much lower levels than it was decades ago, despite efforts by strong elements to artificially keep it high in public minds in order to squeeze money out of it.
That is my opinion based on a good knowledge of Thai corruption depth and some gut feelings. You don’t have to agree with me and of course I don’t know every single case you’ve mentioned – but your Google listing of arrests is also not a proof for anything to start with.
Have you checked how many of those cases ended up in conviction?
Have you checked the total number of foreigners who are serving time in Thai jails for pedophilia at all, and how does that fit the atmosphere reflected from your listing ??
The truth is that only few of them remain in Thai jails. They usually pay the money demanded from them (if they have it) then get out. Now, I know some people would automatically call it bribe while other would acknowledge the option of it being a submission to blackmail. The truth is out there, but in either cases that only points to one fact: the Thai legal system is far from being something you can trust or rely on – and that’s the same system which is responsible to those media reports in your listing.
No, most of suspects don’t get caught red-handed. Most cases are based on testimonies of locals with the Thai police sometimes ‘helping’ the evidences.
If, for example, they break into a room too early and find a foreigner with an underage girl in an innocent situation – like watching TV with their clothes on – they might violently force both to get naked in order to take photos of them.
Do you remember those rains of reports about Thai police hiding drugs inside innocent tourists’ bags, then extorting them? (it was always highlighted in Lonely-Planet publications in the ‘warning’ section lol..) now honestly ask yourself what would actually stop them from using the same practices against sex crime suspects? does their nature change in 180 degrees when it comes to sex cases?? Those practices are of course still kicking and alive Thai’s nature hasn’t changed – it’s only us who hate sex suspects zillion times more than drug-using suspects, and not ready to listen to anything from their end..
You asked for an example, so here is a quick one from your listing:
That’s the Russian pianist case you mentioned. Case had been dropped. Where is the boy the police insisted he had sex with? Where are the photo allegedly found on his PC? oh.. could it be that Thai police fabricates evidences against rich pianists? What does that mean about that police practices?
Of course not all cases are of famous pianists, that’s why the media almost never gets back to them if they are closed. They are no longer interesting. They are yesterday’s news.
Blackmails, by their nature, will always remain rumors at the most. Such financial settlements which involve scared foreigners and corrupted officials won’t get published of course. That’s why you haven’t heard of it in your area (me neither, except once) regardless of the fact that it might have taken place much closer to you than you think.
Such things happen all over Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Pattaya city by it’s nature is a perfect ground to run such stings and hosts more than its fair share of them, but it happens everywhere ‘rich’ foreigners are staying. Some tourists are lucky to have enough cash with them on-site before even reaching the police station, so avoiding such deadly media attention.
I know your post was about western sex offenders in Pattaya but just want to show how elements involved don’t always come in clean hands.
There is no need for statistics to confirm NGOs inactivity against local Asian child rapists. Such activity from their end is generally non-existent. The only few cases where locals got accidentally caught were side effects of raiding foreigners. If you’d like to check I can send you to several known karaoke bars in BKK, Pattaya or Phnom-Penh full of minors and local clients openly amusing. I’ll also provide you with a list of NGOs hotline numbers. You just give them a call and report back what happened 🙂
Dec 21, 2014 at 11:06 pm
Johnny says
I’ve been visiting Pattaya now for the past 20 years and based on my observation, I DEFINITELY agree with you Eric. Child prostitution was much worse in 2004 but it’s very scant now. I’m not saying it doesn’t exist but the Thai authorities have been very successful over the years cracking down on it, especially in the Sunee Plaza area. For that I believe they deserve a load of credit. That’s why it angers me to see disingenuous articles like this claiming that it is worse than it ever has been. That is simply not true. It’s almost as if they wish it was horrible and out of control because hysteria seems to give us a euphoria!
Jan 07, 2017 at 2:06 pm
TheThailandLife says
With all due respect, your assumption is based on observation (as you admit) while this article is based on facts, on those arrested and many charged, and the report from the HHN. This is a timeline documenting a pattern of abuse cases — one that hasn’t been updated with the latest cases in a while.
That said, I hope you are right, I hope it has declined. Certainly the number of western pedophile cases fell last year, though we have seen cases rise in Cambodia and Northern Thailand, so it is likely that because the media is focused heavily on Pattaya, because of its past reputation, that pedophiles are avoiding the area.
That said, orphanages and organisations like the Human Help Network, Slum Kids, and Help Alliance are busier than ever helping street children who have been victims of sexual abuse.
What I always find very hard to swallow is the Western expats who want to rubbish this issue; pretend it is overstated, doesn’t exist or that real-life cases are “disingenuous”. This attitude is a real betrayal of the street children at risk and plays into the hands of corrupt authorities who are part of the problem. And for what? To project their association with Pattaya because they like to holiday there and partake in the sex industry, and don’t want the risk of being tarnished with the same brush.
Jan 07, 2017 at 5:27 pm
Kalie says
That’s a well thought out post to a challenging issue. Good detective work!
Jan 27, 2014 at 8:22 am