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Gang made millions by selling ‘slaves’
into life of prostitution
‘Oriental Gems’ website exploited women through a string of brothels
TWO brothers who ran an internet sex gang that made millions from exploiting trafficked women have been jailed.
The gang smuggled hundreds of Asian women to London to work as prostitutes at dozens of addresses in Paddington and Bayswater and made at least £3.2million during its five-year operation.
Many of the women had no idea they had bought a ticket to sex slavery, getting to London to be stung with bills of up to £30,000 to repay their travel “debts”.
Pongpoj, 31, from Paddington, was given 18 months and his brother Bordee Pitayatankul, 33, from Surrey was handed 15 months at Southwark Crown Court.
Seven other members of the gang, two of whom also lived in the Paddington area and one in Victoria, were also jailed.
Members admitted a number of offences including conspiracy to launder money and plotting to control prostitution.
About 70 women, including teenagers, worked from at least 20 brothels across London, going with dozens of customers every week to try to clear their debts with the gang.
One of their websites, named Oriental Gems, featured a parade of women accompanied by a photo gallery showing them naked. It also listed a menu of sexual services with prices from £150 for an hour to £1,500 for an overnight stay.
Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Hardy said: “It cannot be right in this day and age that women coming to this country should be, in effect, sold off like slaves to work in this or any other trade for free until their debt is expunged. Oriental Gems was exploiting on a grand scale both in the number of females on its books or, more accurately, its website and the turnover in cash generated.”
Conservative estimates put the gang’s turnover at £800,000 a year and the members are believed to have pocketed £3.2million between them.
So far officers have seized just £179,000, though they expect to trace assets believed to be hidden abroad.
The other gang members were Monthira Duangthip, 35 from Paddington, Graipich Vudto, 28, from Victoria, Noppharat Charoenying, 29 from Bayswater, Sutima Khongpon, 55, Phanusak Kaewbenjarkarn, 32 and Panya Peakaew, 25, all from Streatham.
The judge said authorities should decide whether those convicted should be deported. |
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