Thai Woman Illegally Detained and Forced into Prostitution by Cohabitating Gang Sentenced to Imprisonment

A cohabitating gang that employed Thai nationals to embezzle prostitution payments while illegally detaining and monitoring the victimized women has been sentenced to imprisonment.

According to the legal community on the 12th, the Changwon District Court's Criminal Division 2 (Presiding Judge Jeong Ji-eun) sentenced A, a man in his 40s, to 2 years in prison for violations of the Act on the Punishment of Violences, such as illegal confinement (joint confinement), and B, a Thai woman in her 20s who was in a cohabitating relationship with A, to 1 year in prison with a 2-year probation.

The court stated, "Given the method of confinement used by A and the type of promissory notes involved, it seems that the victims, who were in an unstable situation without residency status, experienced significant psychological pressure."

The court added, "B also participated in A's joint confinement crime by exploiting the victims' unstable situation, which reflects poorly on her character."

A and B were charged with operating a prostitution business in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, from September 2023 until January, employing illegally residing Thai women and embezzling money under the pretext of advance payments, while confining or threatening them to prevent escape.

**Charges of Embezzling Money Under the Pretext of Advance Payments while Confining or Threatening Victims**

Subtle Control Over Victims through Confinement and Intimidation

This cohabitating couple established work rules, stating that the sex workers could only leave if accompanied by a manager until they repaid both the principal and interest on the advance payments they received.

Furthermore, fearing that the sex workers might escape, they took photos of victims' passports and identification cards, compelling the women to write their family addresses in Thailand on debt acknowledgment forms to exert psychological pressure.

In particular, A obstructed external windows with wooden panels to prevent the victims from leaving and raised large dogs at the back entrance to keep the victims away.

During business hours, they supervised the victims at the entrance in shifts, and after closing, even locked the door with a padlock from outside.

They threatened the victims, claiming they had connections with police and immigration office officials, instilling fear that they could be found anytime if they attempted to escape. They also economically exploited the victims by receiving all prostitution payments and giving only a portion of it to the women.

Their criminal activities were ultimately exposed when one of the victims sought help from the Mokpo Women’s Human Rights Center and managed to escape.

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