Cambodian Kids Caught Begging by Bangkok Cops

 

Two Cambodian adults were arrested in Bangkok after their children were seen in Thai school uniforms begging on the street. The suspects admitted they had brought the children into Thailand to be beggars. But they said the children were their relatives and not bought from traffickers.  BANKGOK – December 22, 2012 [PDN]: Bangkok police announced the arrests of two Cambodians charged with forcing their children into begging. The announcement was made by Pol. Col. Sanga Kanpirom, director of the detective division, metropolitan police 4; and Pol. Lt. Col. Apichart Utaramart, detective inspector of the detective squad, metropolitan police 4.The suspects were identified as Mrs. Pia, 40 years old, Cambodian; and Mrs. Lee, 45 years old, Cambodian. They are charged with human trafficking because they had children dressing like students and begging on the street.
Police seized the evidence of two donation boxes, along with several thousand baht worth of banknotes and coins, as well as an account notebook recording the money received from begging.
Pol. Col. Sanga said that detective officers were on patrol and noticed two Cambodian children, 9 and 12 years old, standing in front of Tawanna Plaza in Klongjan, Bangkapi. They were dressed like school students and holding a donation box. On the box were labels that said, “We are orphans, please donate, thank you,” and “I’ll use to cure my sickness, thank you.”
The police observed the children for a while, and noticed Mrs. Pia standing nearby. Then she came near the children and told them to bring the donation box as they walked toward a van. So the police arrested them.
Police caught the other suspect nearby, after they saw a 6-year-old Cambodian boy also holding a donation box in front of the Tesco Lotus. The label on his box said “I’ll use the money to cure my illness, thank you.”
Mrs. Lee was sitting about 5 meters from the boy beggar, and holding a boy who was only 1-month-old. Police observed them for a while. They saw Mrs. Lee begging for money from passersby. They also saw her tell the young boy to put the donation box in his bag, as if they were going to leave. So the police showed their identities and arrested her.
After their arrests, police used a translator to question the two adult suspects. The suspects told police that they had brought the children into Thailand through the border in Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo.
They admitted they had brought the children into Thailand to be beggars, because they wanted money. But they said the children were their real relatives, and not kidnapped or bought from traffickers.
The Bangkok police contacted Pracha Bodee to take the children to protect their rights. Then they sent the adult suspects to the detective officers of Lard Praw police station for prosecution.