PATTAYA — Thai police appear unable to solve the ongoing problem of women and transgender individuals deceiving and robbing foreign tourists in Pattaya, as evidenced by two similar cases reported last night involving Australian and Bangladeshi visitors.
In the first incident, 47-year-old Australian tourist Mr. V filed a complaint with Police Lieutenant Colonel Saichai Khamjulla at Pattaya City Police Station at 4:00 a.m. after being robbed of cash from his hotel room in Soi Pattaya Klang 12, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.
Mr. V stated that around 3:00 a.m., while walking along Pattaya Beach, he met an attractive woman who claimed to be Lao. He invited her back to his room, but she said she was afraid to go alone and asked to bring a transgender friend along, to which he agreed.
When they reached his room, he went to shower. Upon emerging, he discovered both women had disappeared along with 7,000 baht ($216.5) in cash from his wallet. He immediately reported the theft to police.
In a second case reported around the same time to the same officer, 32-year-old Bangladeshi tourist Mr. MH reported being assaulted and robbed of 800 Singapore dollars, 200 Malaysian ringgit, and 4,000 Thai baht – totaling approximately 25,500 baht ($790).
Mr. MH told police that after midnight Friday, while walking on Pattaya Beach, a Thai woman approached him for conversation before inviting him to a hotel room in Soi Khao Phra Tamnak 4. Upon arrival, she claimed two friends would join them.
When the two additional Thai women entered the room, all three threatened and physically assaulted him before forcing him to hand over his belongings, leaving him penniless. Unable to afford transportation, he had to walk to the police station until a motorcycle taxi driver offered him a free ride after learning of his situation.
Police are investigating the incidents, though these types of cases often go unsolved. With no legal framework governing Pattaya’s sex trade, authorities struggle to monitor the transient population of service providers who can easily return to the area once tourists have departed.
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