An investigation has been launched after three Chinese women, with scarred faces and amputated hands, were found by police begging on the roadside at different spots in Bangkok.

One minister said on Monday that the beggars might be victims of human trafficking.

Officials went to an area in front of a department store in Pin Klao area after being informed that a Chinese woman in a student uniform had begged for money under a pedestrian crossing. Her face and head appeared deformed, appearing to have been attacked with acid or hot water, and her hands amputated.

The woman was found with a bag, a chair, a money box and a room keycard. She was taken to Bang Phlat police station for an interview via an interpreter.

She said she arrived in Thailand alone on Nov 10 to beg for money, not knowing that doing so is illegal. She was a divorcee, she told police, and had two children back in China. As for the scars on the face, she said as a child playing with a friend, there was an explosion in a car and some liquid splashed on her face.

Six other Chinese women have been seen begging at other spots in Bangkok, some with one hand cut off and others with both hands amputated. Their faces were also scarred.

Police managed to find two other women. One, about 33 years old, was found sitting on the roadside in Pratunam area with a plastic begging bowl. She was brought to Phayathai police station for questioning. Police found in her possession 10,400 baht in 20-baht and 100-baht notes.

Police were still looking for the four other Chinese women.

The Ministry of Social Development and Human Security were trying to find how the women had entered the country, whether they carried proper travel documents and whether they had come voluntarily or been victims of human trafficking.