Pattaya police explain alleged bribery in child prostitution case

Pattaya police issued a statement today in an attempt to clarify a German media report, claiming that a German tourist, who was arrested for buying sexual services from an underage girl in Pattaya bar in September last year, was released after allegedly paying a million baht bribe to police before leaving Thailand.
In response to the accusation made in the DW documentary, Pattaya police said in its statement that that, on September 10th last year, police and local administration officials raided the Cobra beer bar in Bang Lamung district, after it was alleged that sexual services by underage girls were being offered to customers.
The bar's owner, a Thai woman identified as Ornthana Yothee, 42, and her British partner, were arrested and charged with providing the services of prostitutes.
The police expanded their investigation and claim that a German customer used to buy sexual services from an underage employee of the bar. They arrested him on September 24th in a hotel in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri.
Two days later, the German suspect was taken to the Pattaya court, to have his detention extended for further questioning. The suspect then sought bail and the application was granted by the court on the condition that he must report to the court on November 14th, or his 500,000 baht surety would be confiscated.
On November 7th, the German suspect flew out of Thailand.
Pol Lt-Gen Somprasong Yentuam, commissioner of Region 2 Provincial Police Bureau, said he had ordered an investigation into the bribery allegation made in the documentary.
He said that, since several law enforcement agencies were involved in the case, the police would try to uncover what went wrong and which agency was responsible.
The statement from the police did not specifically address the one million baht which is alleged to have been paid, or whether the 500,000 baht “bail surety” was part of it.