Wichit Police arrest three in raids over unlicensed venues and minors

Wichit Police said they arrested three people during raids on two venues in Wichit on the night of June 9 over allegations that the businesses were operating without licences and employing minors.

During the first inspection, at a restaurant in Moo 3, Wichit, officers arrested a 41-year-old man identified by police only as “Mr Ji”. Police said he was charged with operating an entertainment venue without a licence and employing minors under 18 years old without permission.

According to police, the charges include jointly operating an unlicensed entertainment establishment, jointly employing minors under 18 in an entertainment venue without permission under the Labour Protection Act, and jointly enticing, promoting or allowing children to engage in inappropriate behaviour or behaviour that could place them at risk of committing offences.

Officers then inspected a second restaurant nearby on Chao Fa West Road in Moo 3, Wichit. There, police arrested two women identified only as “Ms Pim”, 42, and “Ms Chu”, 38.

Police said the pair face similar charges of jointly operating an entertainment establishment without permission, jointly employing minors under 18 years old without permission, and jointly enticing, promoting or allowing children to engage in behaviour deemed inappropriate or potentially leading to criminal activity.

All three suspects were taken into custody for legal proceedings.

Wichit Police said the arrests were part of ongoing efforts to enforce entertainment venue regulations and protect children from exploitation and inappropriate working conditions in Phuket.