A tourist who came to the police to complain about being robbed by a sex worker has been threatened with charges for violating Thailand's prostitution law.
An Indian tourist's night in the "very prudish" beach resort of Pattaya went completely off the rails after the sex worker he hired turned out to be a transgender man.
See also: 13 things to know about ladyboys (transvestites) in Thailand
The tourist, whose identity has not been revealed, said he hired a stranger he initially mistook for a woman to come to his hotel room in the Bang Lamung area.
But the tourist said that once he arrived in his room, he noticed that the sex worker was transgender.
The tourist then asked to get his 1,500 baht (40.35 euros) back, but the prostitute reportedly refused.
The tourist added that the prostitute had become aggressive.
He said that in addition to the gender confusion, he later realized that the sex worker had stolen his wristwatch, which he said was expensive.
The tourist reported the sex worker to the Pattaya police station.
The Indian tourist with the police. Photo: The Pattaya News
But at the police station, the tables were turned when the police informed him that he had also broken the law.
Police told the tourist that he had violated Thai prostitution laws and that they should charge him and the sex worker.
The tourist then reportedly burst into tears and begged the police for help.
He said he had no idea about Thai laws and just wanted to have "a good time."
Police inspected the hotel in an attempt to locate the suspect, adding that they would be able to solve the case quickly, as the suspect had left his ID card in the hotel room.
No legal charges have been reported yet for violating the prostitution law, it seems the police were amused by the whole thing.
Pattaya city is known to be a hotspot for prostitution in Thailand.
This year, Pattaya has also become a hub for robberies against tourists, especially Indian tourists.
There have been 16 cases of pickpocketing in the Pattaya area since the beginning of the year, the most recent being in early November.
Many thieves are transgender.
See also:
Tourists victimized by sex workers in Thailand
Source: The Pattaya News
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4 comments
These prostitution laws are getting a bit much.
Justice must take action.
Loozap, hello.
In Thailand, (do we REALLY need to remind you once again), prostitution is simply PROHIBITED!
When you know the country from having been there just once on holiday and having spent just one evening in a red light district of Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai or simply having met elsewhere, in the street, in a restaurant, a store, a coffee shop or other public place, a young woman "available" to share with you a few hours or a few days of your holiday, you quickly understand that this law prohibiting prostitution is nothing but a parody of justice.
According to the police, there is no prostitution in Thailand, since there is a law prohibiting it!
And since Thais (as is known throughout the world!) are all examples of responsible citizens and respect all the laws of the Kingdom to the letter, there are no prostitutes in Thailand.
There are masseuses in massage parlors, dancers in go-go shows, singers in karaoke bars, waiters in bars and nightclubs, walkers along the beaches, single girls and young women in discos...
All these people that you can approach by offering to share a conversation, a drink, some street food, a song, a massage may offer you another meeting, at another time of the day to meet again in private in your hotel room or your residence, to share a few drinks, a meal and your bed if the person is sensually and sexually open to a consensual relationship with you.
And to thank her for her kindness, her qualities as a masseur or masseuse, her proven experience, her openness (of body and mind), and her availability to share your intimate fantasies, you will reward her by offering her a contribution, a donation of a few tickets for the education of her child or to help her and her elderly parents.
And all of this, as any police officer you ask about it will tell you, will take place between that person and you, in a private, consenting setting, outside of work hours, like any couple enjoying each other's company, spending their leisure time together. So the police have no reason to intervene and consider this prostitution. Period!
This is the official position of the authorities as it is often recounted during discussions on the subject between police officers and curious foreigners.
But when there is "flagrant prostitution," in cases of sexual violence, human trafficking, pimping and forced prostitution or sexual relations with minors under 18, the police fortunately intervene to make "examples" and remind the 800,000 to 1 million prostitutes in the country that they do not exist, since prostitution is prohibited!!!
Pattaya… it’s “Brothel on the Sea”!!!
I have been living in Thailand since 2002, and I find your articles clear and sensible. We must respect the Thais and their way of life. Far too many faleng (foreigners) want to live here like in Europe...
The hospitals are top notch... You don't have to wait 3 months for a scan, you often get it done the same day or at the latest within the week...
Thailand is a pleasant country, but not everyone goes to Thailand to go to bars...
There is so much better to do...