Residents of the Rangsit neighbourhood in Pathum Thani urged police to investigate prostitution after a group of women was seen gathering on the roadside and waving at passersby. Acting on a tip-off, officers arrested two sex workers yesterday, August 20.
The case began after the Facebook page, ปทุมธานีที่นี่ต้องรู้, reported on August 18 that groups of suspicious women sat along the roadside at Rattanakosin 200 Years Village near Rangsit Railway Station in Prachathipat subdistrict, Thanyaburi district, Pathum Thani, at night.
The page visited the area late at night and recorded footage while driving through the neighbourhood. The video showed several women sitting on plastic or outdoor chairs along the roadside. Some of them were seen sitting on parked motorcycles.
They appeared to focus on passing vehicles and pedestrians. Locals in the area reported to the page that these women were prostitutes. The page then urged local police officers to investigate the claim.
The post drew attention from the public and was widely reposted on social media, prompting police to act on the matter. Officers from the Pathum Thani Provincial Police inspected Rattanakosin 200 Years Village on August 19 but did not find any people believed to be involved in wrongdoing.
The outcome of the operation was criticised by Thai online users, particularly locals in the area. They insisted that the group of women was usually present at the scene.
Food delivery riders who regularly wait for orders near the railway tracks told officials that groups of more than 10 women normally gathered in the area almost every night.
The riders said the number of women had dropped significantly after the crackdown and social media reports. They also said they had never seen the women cause problems for residents in the neighbourhood.
Officials returned to the area yesterday, August 20, following continued concerns. The team checked the neighbourhood and the area alongside Rangsit Railway Station at around 10.30pm.
During the inspection, one woman reportedly stood up and walked away after seeing officers approaching. Officers tried to call her back, but she continued running and left the area.
Police later found two women sitting together near the railway station and questioned them. Both reportedly confessed that they regularly came to the area to wait for customers for prostitution.
One of the women said she had moved to Pathum Thani from another province and earned a living mainly by collecting and selling recyclable items. She said she came to the area at night to solicit sex, charging 400 baht or 300 baht per customer.
She said there were also days when she found no customers. She attributed her circumstances to financial hardship, saying she had separated from her husband and had children to support.
Police accompanied the two women to a police station for a record and said they would proceed with relevant fines.
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The story Only 2 women held during late-night prostitution investigation in Pathum Thani as seen on Thaiger News.
