Pletnev Investigation Leads to Large-Scale Pedophile Ring

[Gaybutton]

Apparently the pedophiles had a friend in a Thai "gentleman" running a pedophile ring and luring young boys via his Internet gaming shop and also apparently several internet shops are involved. Lord only knows just how widespread this might be. This is one of the more sickening stories yet.

_____

 

Paedophilic Internet Café Scam Investigated in Pattaya

 

Following the high profile arrest of Mr. Mikhail Pletnev, the internationally renowned Russian musician, Pattaya Children & Woman Protection Center revealed the discovery of an intricate network of paedophiles operating in Pattaya.

 

Pattaya, the 9th of July 2010 [PDN]: At approximately 1:00pm on Friday, Mr. Supphakorn Noja (Pattaya Welfare Protection & Child Development Center Director) revealed the successful discovery of a network of paedophiles operating through various “front” internet café businesses. Investigators have since obtained a statement from a victim of the alleged scam, who revealed that the operation involved largely foreign clients with Thai men acting as intermediaries.

 

Mr. Noja explained that the Children & Woman Protection Center investigating the cases of Mr. Traiphop Bunphasong and Mr. Mikhail Pletnev, uncovered a network of paedophiles that had been deceiving young children into committing indecent acts having innocently used various internet cafés for gaming purposes.

 

Photos and the rest of the story: Paedophilic Internet Café Scam

[Guest fountainhall]

Apparently the pedophiles had a friend in a Thai "gentleman" running a pedophile ring and luring young boys via his Internet gaming shop and also apparently several internet shops are involved. Lord only knows just how widespread this might be. This is one of the more sickening stories yet.

I agree 100%. Regarding the musician, Pletnev seems to have admitted the association with Mr. Bunphasong and knowledge of the internet shop when questioned by the police. That does not look good for him. On the other hand, Bunphasong is, I think, the one who looked after his home during the 10 - 11 months each year he was not in Pattaya. At least Pletnev is guilty of employing a crook, even though he might not have known it.

 

The article also includes this -

 

Mr. Bunphasong subsequently informed police about various clients involved with the operation, including high-profile Russian musician Mr. Mikhail Pletnev.

Maybe this is the truth. Equally it once more sounds that it could be a set-up. Bunphasong will know he is looking at 15 - 20 years or more in jail. He needs a lot of cash for his defence and to oil wheels prior to conviction. With access to Pletnev's home, he will have known Pletnev was rich. He will also have known he was gay and had a Thai boyfriend (described in reports as in his mid-20's - the age he looks in the photo in the various news reports). What will be interesting is the names of the others named by the Thai. Will these also be rich, I wonder?

[Gaybutton]

Will these also be rich, I wonder?

They better be if they want out of this one. This case is too high profile for just paying off the police and now the problems go away. I also think a lot of Thai parents will be out there raising hell if they find out their own children were lured into this kind of prostitution. And it appears quite a large number of boys were lured this way.

 

I hope, if nothing else, this will scare a lot of pedophiles into getting out of Thailand very quickly, before the knock comes on their doors.

 

Damn! I wonder just how many farang pedophiles are actually in Thailand. I suppose I am naive, but I also wonder how the pedophiles manage to find these kinds of operations in the first place.

[Guest fountainhall]

I hope, if nothing else, this will scare a lot of pedophiles into getting out of Thailand very quickly, before the knock comes on their doors.

Hear! Hear!

 

It's no excuse and I abhor it, but we all know that there are underage children of both sexes - often street kids - who either choose this lifestyle (for the money) or are pushed into it. Since the crack-down on the Sunee bars where you could often find underage boys, I reckon it was inevitable that they and/or the pimps would find another outlets. The internet cafe ring seems to be one of them.

 

Presumably the Child Protection Agency already has at least some of these kids under their protection away from those who would try to pay their families off. With Bunphasong also in custody for a week now, surely they must already have a considerable list of names? So I just wonder why Pletnev's is the only name to have surfaced to date? Am I being naive, but wouldn't the leaking of his name and the ensuing media storm mean that at least some of these pedophiles have already fled and escaped justice? I find it odd because I assume the objective of their investigation must surely be to ensure that justice is served - not that justice is denied.

[Gaybutton]

Since the crack-down on the Sunee bars where you could often find underage boys, I reckon it was inevitable that they and/or the pimps would find another outlets.

Are you under the impression that the under-age boys working in Sunee Plaza is a thing of the past? To put it mildly, I would still encourage people to make sure to check IDs before taking some of the boys off from some of the bars.

 

As for the pedophiles having fled, I hope so, but the fact that no names have surfaced - yet - doesn't really mean that much at this point. It could be that the police are not releasing any names until they can start making arrests. It could also be that the media simply isn't reporting names. It often seems that what the English language media publishes and what it ignores could very well qualify for my "I Don't Get It" list. A perfect example is the death of the guy from the La Dolce Vita bar and the fact that a Thai boy has been arrested in connection with it. There still hasn't been one word about it in any of the English language media that I've seen. I have no idea why they're not reporting it, especially in light of the fact that the Thai language media is reporting it, but there it is. In any case, I hope this puts a stop to a lot of the pedophiles. The trouble is, no matter what happens they always seem to manage to find another way to do what they do.

[Guest fountainhall]

As for the pedophiles having fled, I hope so, but the fact that no names have surfaced - yet - doesn't really mean that much at this point. It could be that the police are not releasing any names until they can start making arrests.

I understand the point, but with respect I still don't think you are correct. Releasing one high profile name makes zero sense at all IF the objective is to nab a bunch of pedophiles. Let's remember that this guy Bunphasong's name and his alleged crimes have also been in the media for some days. That alone must surely have raised the alert and so frightened many off - perhaps to return again in the fullness of time. Plus, I am told that the media listen in to police frequencies. If there had already been other arrests, surely some would have been in the papers and on TV?

 

Certainly, when we read about the busting of such rings in other countries/continents, absolutely nothing is revealed until a whole lot of arrests have been made simultaneously, only after which the details of the 'ring' are publicised. I wonder if we will ever know the full story!

[Gaybutton]

makes zero sense at all

That is precisely the point. This would hardly be the first time making zero sense at all would be the case in Thailand.

 

I don't have any idea whether I'm correct or not. I'm only suggesting a possibility. Whatever is going on, I can't help but think it is all going to end up on my "I Don't Get It" list, but we're not quite there just yet.

[Guest gwm4sian]

There is one little snippet in the newspaper report quoted above...

Photographs and videos of the incidents

 

If there is any truth in this whole affair then there could be some very worried men getting ready to leave Pattaya.

[Gaybutton]

If there is any truth in this whole affair then there could be some very worried men getting ready to leave Pattaya.

I hope you're right and I hope they're already gone. I also hope it scares other pedophiles from either coming to Thailand for the first time or returning to Thailand.

[Guest tdperhs]

I hope, if nothing else, this will scare a lot of pedophiles into getting out of Thailand very quickly, before the knock comes on their doors.

For the farang pedophile, getting out of Thailand may not do it. If there's enough probable cause, he may be met by police or government agents upon landing and whisked into a court of extradition to be returned to Thailand. It depends, of course, on where he is going.

[Guest lvdkeyes]

Personally, I hope they are stupid enough to stay and get caught and get the justice they deserve.

[Guest fountainhall]

For the farang pedophile, getting out of Thailand may not do it. If there's enough probable cause, he may be met by police or government agents upon landing and whisked into a court of extradition to be returned to Thailand.

I think you are correct. I suspect the police here have to get a Court order before a suspect can be put on an Immigration watch list. So if they are already out of the country, they may think they are home and dry. But if an arrest warrant is subsequently issued and they do not report to the Thai police, that's when the authorities can bring in Interpol. From that point onwards, they really cannot travel anywhere unless they get a fake passport. Since these perverts seemed to be remarkably well organised, I would not be surprised if they have amongst them someone who makes fake passports.

[PattayaMale]

Pedophiles, Police and Pattaya.........

 

I have always wondered why there is so much press about male, male under legal age sex and hardly ever mentioning the male, female under legal age sex.

 

I have always wondered why we seldom hear about any kind of under legal age sex, happening in Bangkok and other Thai cities.

 

I have always wondered why 16 - 20 police show up with the press to issue a warrant of under legal age sex (male) in Pattaya.

 

I have always wondered why some posters get so riled up when they hear about under legal age sex (male) in Pattaya. I always consider, "me thinks thou does protest too much".

 

I have always wondered why some seem to act as in shock that this would ever happen when they sit in bars seeking out sex with "young looking boys" and surely must realize that someone does not have to be of legal sex age to want easy money.

 

I have always wondered if some posters would still be upset if the legal age of sex was 15 or 25.

 

I have always wondered why the drinking age in the USA is 21 and the age we train people to kill is 18 and no one seems upset when Thai adults in villages will allow 16 year olds to sit around and drink with them.

 

I have always wondered why some posters think it most vile for a gay adolescent with hormones raging to want to have sex with an adult. Adult meaning 18 and over.

 

I have wondered if some posters would support a law forbidding sex between people whose age is more than 10 years apart.

 

I wonder if someone wonders about these things will others wonder if he engages in under age sex even if he doesn't.

[Gaybutton]

Here's the first thing that I'm putting on my "I Don't Get It" list. The article says:

 

". . . offered the chance to clear the debt by performing indecent, sexual acts, with largely foreign clients. Photographs and videos of the incidents would then be uploaded onto the internet . . ."

 

". . . Mr. Bunphasong subsequently informed police about various clients involved with the operation . . ."

 

Unless I'm missing something, this indicates to me that the foreign "clients" at least knew they were being photographed and videoed. Whether they knew any of it was going to end up on the Internet, I don't know. Also, if Bunphasong is now informing police about various clients, that indicates to me he knows who they are and has contact information that he most likely verified.

 

Why on earth would these "clients" allow that to happen? They let themselves be photoed and videoed while indulging in these incidents? They gave Bunphasong personal information? Am I getting this right? It's bad enough they are doing this sort of thing at all, but if I'm understanding this correctly, then they must be crazy or stupid or more likely a combination of both.

 

Don't these people know if something ever happens, the first thing Bunphasong would do is turn in every one of them in an attempt to save his own skin? Don't they know that by allowing photos or videos, then they're virtually lining up to be caught? That has to be one of the top ten on a 'stupid' list.

 

But good! I think tdperhs is right. Even if they manage to escape Thailand, it's only a question of time before they find themselves trying to explain their actions to a judge in their home countries.

[PattayaMale]

People that commit crimes, should be prosecuted in my view. However.....

 

Does anyone think that the Thai justice system may be corrupt? Could innocent people flee because they fear they will not get a fair trial in Thailand? Should they then be prosecuted in their home country if innocent?

 

As I understand it, in Thailand you must prove yourself innocent, in many countries the prosecution must prove you are guilty with a preponderance of evidence. That is a very big difference. Example: Your neighbor is angry with you because your dog barks too much. Reports that you had sex with their under age daughter. The police are required to act. They get a warrant to search your house. They find KY and condoms. They arrest you. Ok, prove you did not do it.

 

Ever get a ticket when driving around Thailand? Do you pay the tea money or would you fight it?

 

Even several well connected Thais have fled Thailand. When asked why, they said the system is too corrupt. (Remember the 1 million baht found in a donut box being passed to the judges?)

 

If I was convicted of a crime in Thailand and my choice was standing trial in Thailand or in my home country, I would certainly want to be prosecuted in my home country.

 

I love living in Thailand. I want to live my life out here. I do everything I can not to "cross" the wrong person.

[Guest fountainhall]

Here's the first thing that I'm putting on my "I Don't Get It" list. The article says:

 

". . . offered the chance to clear the debt by performing indecent, sexual acts, with largely foreign clients. Photographs and videos of the incidents would then be uploaded onto the internet . . ."

 

". . . Mr. Bunphasong subsequently informed police about various clients involved with the operation . . ."

I am equally mystified. I am sure we are only hearing selected bits of the 'truth', but something is more than just odd here. We know little more about this Bunphasong character other than that he ran an internet cafe, had sex with at least one of the minors 20 times, rented others out, made sex videos allegedly featuring the boys and the clients, distributed them somehow over the internet - and, crucially, looked after Mr. Pletnev's house during his 40 - 44 weeks absence each year.

 

Unless I'm missing something, this indicates to me that the foreign "clients" at least knew they were being photographed and videoed.

Since these sex sessions were filmed, it could perhaps have been done with hidden cameras. No pedophile, surely, would knowingly want himself to be caught on camera in his own home. Far too easy to identify. But they had to be filmed somewhere. Might the assignations and the secret filming have been done, I wonder, at Pletnev's house during his extended absences? Bunphasong clearly had a set of keys and knew the house was empty.

 

You can drive a coach and horses through that theory - e.g. wouldn't the pedophiles become aware of the cameras? If not, then they certainly would once they saw themselves on the "latest release" on the site. But if it was an encoded private subscription-only site, is it too far-fetched to think that these ring 'members' actually know each other, and don't mind their antics being seen by others in the ring?

[Bob]

As I understand it, in Thailand you must prove yourself innocent, in many countries the prosecution must prove you are guilty with a preponderance of evidence. That is a very big difference.

 

Your understanding is incorrect about the Thai system (every accused is presumed innocent and he must be proven guilty - see Section 39 of the current Thai constitution) and, in Thailand and most western countries, the burden of proof in a criminal case is technically "beyond a reasonable doubt" (in the west, the "predonderance" level is what's required to prevail in civil litigation).

 

That being said, I'm sure there are all types of various errors (unintentional and intentional) being made and my guess is justice is thwarted too often by appropriate payments to victims or others.

 

We've all "heard" (often fed by rumor and internet hysteria) of terrible miscarriages of justice here and there but I'm not sure how often that actually occurs. In Thailand, it's almost impossible to know as the newspapers are fairly awful in printing accurate stories and, of course, they almost never follow up on what happened in a given case. Even in the west, the local press is usually pretty bad in reporting about criminal cases (I've seen reporters attend court proceedings and later read their stories - and too often conclude that the author either selectively heard what was going or was just plain ignorant about what was truly going on there).

[PattayaMale]

@Bob

 

I noticed you wrote "according to the current constitution". Do you know if it was different before this constitution?

 

I read that in the 1997 constitution there was and continued to be conflict between that Constitution and the Penal code (libel). Thaskin used this (Penal code)to threaten many.

"Among the provisions of the Constitution, article 39 states, "A person shall enjoy the liberty to express his or her opinion, make speeches, write, print, publicise, and make expression by other means." No better example of a law that violates this provision of the Constitution exists than section 328 of the Penal Code of Thailand. Section 328 allows for criminal defamation, punishable by a fine of up to 200,000 Thai baht (US $ 5000) and two years' imprisonment. This regulation does nothing to encourage enjoyment of liberty to express an opinion. On the contrary, it does everything to stifle it.

[Bob]

@Bob

 

I noticed you wrote "according to the current constitution". Do you know if it was different before this constitution?

 

I've read the last 3 or 4 but it's been a while. I do recall that the prior constitutions had a longer list of enumerated rights for criminal defendants; regardless, I didn't see anything in the latest constitution with respect to criminal defendants' rights that sparked any concern for me. Nothing's changed in the versions I've read with respect to the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof.

 

You can find the 3 or 4 constitutions they've had in the last 20+ years just by searching online. The language is fairly easy to read although the language and reality don't always match up (for one example only, all of the constitutions guaranteed a "free" public education through high school.....but that's not necessarily the reality as some fees kick in beyond junior high - and that's one of the reasons too many poorer kids don't go to or finish high school).

[Guest fountainhall]

every accused is presumed innocent and he must be proven guilty - see Section 39 of the current Thai constitution

Yet there is clearly no problem here in publicly identifying alleged criminals and discussing them and their cases well before they get to Court for trial. Since I know so little about the justice system, are cases heard by juries or only by judges? If by juries, in a case like that of Mr. Pletnev where the very serious nature of the allegation and all the attendant damaging publicity has basically condemned him long before a trial, how do you select a fair and impartial one? I suppose the same could be said if trials are conducted in front only of judges, who must often be under huge pressure to judge one way or the other.

[Gaybutton]

are cases heard by juries or only by judges?

By judges. As far as I know, there is no jury system in Thailand.