Sex Trafficking of Thai Girl: Prosecute Fully, Harshly, All Involved

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This situation must be considered shameful for Japan as a nation. And Japanese police must cooperate with the relevant countries to thoroughly investigate the circumstances behind the shocking human trafficking case of a 12-year-old Thai girl.

In September, a young girl from Thailand sought help from the Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau and was taken into protective custody. She had allegedly been forced to work illegally at a private massage parlor in the Yushima district of Tokyo. There, she was made to provide sexual services to male customers.

Police say that the victim came to Japan in June with her mother, who left her child with the massage parlor business in question before disappearing the next day. Later, the errant mother was detained by the authorities in Taiwan on separate charges.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has arrested the operator of the massage parlor. At this point, he is charged with violating the Labor Standards Act on the minimum age for employees. TMPD also obtained an arrest warrant for the mother on suspicion of violating the Child Welfare Act.

Police in Thailand have also obtained an arrest warrant for the mother on suspicion of human trafficking and other charges. They have, however, indicated that they will prioritize Japan as the destination for her extradition from Taiwan.

TMPD seized these menus showing prices for the services offered from a private massage parlor in Yushima, Tokyo, on November 6. Photo taken at the department's Motofuji Police Station. (©Sankei by Ai Hashimoto)

Forced to Provide Sex Services

The girl was reportedly forced to sleep in the kitchen of the business and provide sexual services to around 60 customers a month. All of her earnings were turned over to the massage parlor. Later, half of that amount was deposited into her mother's bank account, according to police reports.

While still in Thailand, the girl had been a regular junior high school student. Moreover, since she is just 12, it should have been clear to anyone that she was still a young child.

It is difficult to imagine how awful the days she spent in Tokyo must have been for her. Everyone should feel an intense sense of anger towards the business in question. Moreover, it is difficult to imagine forgiving the mother who abandoned her very own daughter to such a life.

But they are not the only guilty parties. There is also a common sense of disgust toward the customers who sought sex services from this girl.

Poverty no doubt played a role in this crime. Wherever there are families mired in poverty, there are bound to be human trafficking brokers and anti-social organizations targeting them.

Japanese society must demand that the whole truth be revealed. Furthermore, severe punishment must be imposed on those responsible for exploiting this girl.

*A grandmother who says she raised the 12-year-old Thai girl answers reporters' questions while babysitting a baby at home in Phetchabun Province in northern Thailand. November 12 (©Kyodo)*

Prosecute Harshly for Human Trafficking

In 2005, a new crime called "human trafficking" was added to Japan's Criminal Code to punish the buying and selling of human beings. Trafficking of a minor is punishable by imprisonment for up to 7 years. Meanwhile, trafficking for obscene purposes is punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years.

These are heavier penalties than the imprisonment for up to one year for hiring underage workers under the Labor Standards Act. However, proving human trafficking can be difficult, and perhaps for that reason, there have been few prosecutions of such cases. However, the case of the Thai girl should prompt Japanese authorities to make more proactive use of the law.

In 2012, the United Nations adopted the Protocol on Human Trafficking "to prevent and combat trafficking in persons, especially women and children."

In response, the government of Japan formulated the "Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons." In its 2022 revised form, it states that the government will work to improve and strengthen measures against human trafficking to make Japan the safest country in the world.

With that in mind, the entire world will be watching how Japan handles the case of the unfortunate Thai girl.

For Help:

Japan's Ministry of Justice has a Human Rights Hotline offering counseling for foreigners. If you or anyone you know is suspected of being a victim of human trafficking or other crimes, please contact this office or call 9570-090911 (weekdays 9 AM-5 PM in Japan).

Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun

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