PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN - Eight women arrested for prostitution at a brothel in Hua Hin resort town early Tuesday told police they chose to work in the sex trade because it paid well.
The women were detained at a rented house near Hua Hin railway station by a team of local officials, soldiers and volunteers. A female clerk and a man working as a guard were also arrested, Hua Hin district chief Sutthipong Khlai-udom said.
Police seized an accounts book detailing sex service payments and found many used condoms at the house, which had 10 small rooms where the women served their customers.
The women, mostly from Khon Kaen, Ubon Ratchathani, Surin and Mae Hong Son, were aged 20-30 years old, said Mr Sutthipong. They admitted they had entered the sex trade voluntarily because it was lucrative.
They charged customers 650 baht each, of which 350 baht went to the house operator. Customers wanting to stay overnight were charged 3,500 baht each, and again the boss received half.
They had an average 30 customers a night and earned more than 30,000 baht a month, the women said.
The brothel guard, Suttho Thaweesak, said he operated a mtorcycle taxi during the day and had worked at the brothel at night as a second job for the past year. He was paid 200 baht a night.
The Hua Hin district chief said the raid followed complaints the house had served as a brothel for a long time and was popular at night. Police earlier raided the premises but found no evidence of prostitution as news about the raid had leaked in advance, Mr Sutthipong said.
All suspects were taken to Hua Hin police station for legal action. Police were investigating to find out the operator of the brothel.