6-3-2024 (BANGKOK) Police in Bangkok have stated that there is no sex trade in the Sukhumvit area, specifically Soi Sukhumvit 11 and its vicinity, where a brawl involving Thai and Filipino transvestites took place on Monday night. Pol Maj Gen Withawat Shinkham, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 5, assured the public on Wednesday that thorough checks had been conducted in the area by both uniformed and plainclothes police, and no evidence of prostitution involving the Filipino transvestites was found.
Addressing the claims of facilitators and corrupt police turning a blind eye to the alleged prostitution, Pol Maj Gen Withawat firmly denied these allegations. He emphasized that the police were committed to investigating the incident thoroughly and would continue to monitor the area for any signs of illicit activities.
The altercation on Monday night resulted in charges of physical assault being filed against two Filipino transvestites and one Thai individual. The police are currently in pursuit of a third Filipino transvestite involved in the incident. However, Pol Maj Gen Withawat expressed the intention of advising both parties to resolve the matter outside of court.
During the brawl, six Thai transvestites were initially assaulted by a group of 15-20 Filipino transvestites on Soi Sukhumvit 11. Subsequently, a confrontation occurred near a hotel where the Filipino transvestites were staying, resulting in injuries to six Thais and one Filipino as the latter was being taken to Lumpini police station.
Pol Maj Gen Withawat emphasized that the incident was a personal dispute and not racially motivated. Pol Col Yingyos Suwanno, chief of Lumpini station, supported this statement, confirming that the Filipino individuals in the area were considered tourists, and there were no reports or accounts of prostitution by Thai witnesses.
The police’s reassurances regarding the absence of a sex trade in the Sukhumvit area aim to dispel any misconceptions and restore a sense of safety and security in the community. The incident, while unfortunate, is being treated as an isolated incident of personal conflict rather than a reflection of the broader situation in the area.
