Crime
Australian and Former Nana Nightclub Owner Found Guilty of Human Trafficking
BANGKOK – A Bangkok Criminal Court has handed down a 19-year jail term to Australian Michael Pearl, 46, and 16 years a Syrian, Moroccan and two Thais to for human trafficking, procurement and prostitution.
46 year-old Pearl who’s originally from Sudan ran Dream Disco on the fourth floor of the Zenith Hotel on soi Nana where the forced prostitution occurred from Oct 11, 2016 to March 26, 2017.
The 16-year sentences were for Syrian Ghassan Wakej, 37, Moroccan Hana Taoyuree, 38, and Chalad Narachan, 63, and Aree Eiamsaree, 46 — all for human trafficking and procurement, the Bangkok Post reported.
The court found that Taoyuree had offered the four Moroccan women well-paid jobs as waitresses in Thailand. They had entered Thailand via the Thai-Lao friendship bridge and boarded a bus to Bangkok.
Once in Bangkok, they were forced into prostitution at the discotheque. Pearl and Wakej paid the victims and the two Thai men detained them reported INN.
Prior to the judgement, the five defendants had been free on bail of 300,000 baht each. They did appear at the court, which was considering an application for continuance of bail pending appeal.