Authorities temporarily closed a Pattaya gentlemen’s club for illegal operation following a raid where more than 100 foreigners and young Thai women were found partying.
Authorities raid a nightclub in Chon Buri, Heaven Gentleman's Lounge Club and Sport, before ordering its closure for illegal operating. (Bangkok Post photo)
A team of police, soldiers and officials raided Heaven Gentleman's Lounge Club and Sport on Phra Tamnak Road in Chon Buri province's Bang Lamung district around 7pm Monday following a complaint that the establishment threw a party with illicit drug use and prostitution services.
The officers found more than 100 party-goers, including foreign men and young Thai women, dancing and drinking inside the two-storey building. Three of the women were found to be under 20 years old. Nobody tested positive for illicit drug use.
The search found some used condoms and towels left in one of five well-appointed rooms on the second floor, but nobody was found in the room. Books detailing accounts of the nightclub, use of those five rooms and a list of female staffers, numbering more than 40, were seized for examination.
Panadda Pansaeng, 36, told authorities that she was the manager of the nightclub, which regularly held parties to entertain clients. She said young female staffers sat with customers to serve them while the latter were drinking. She insisted none of the women provided sex services, while the rooms on the upstairs were for staff use only.
Prapan Prathumchumpa, head of security affairs at Bang Lamung district office, said authorities would initially charge the nightclub with operating without permission, selling alcoholic beverage past operating hours, and allowing people aged under 20 to assemble.
He has ordered the closure of the nightclub for 30 days pending further investigation.
He admitted evidence was insufficient to take action against the establishment for the alleged flesh trade. However, a further investigation would be conducted.
Later that night, the same group of officers raided 17 bars in the South Pattaya area, their second visit in as many days. Three clubs were found to be unlicensed and further investigations were set for an apartment complex where rooms reportedly were being rented for 50 baht an hour. Again, no direct evidence of prostitution or human trafficking was found. The raids are expected to continue over the coming weeks.