Police arrested a man in the northeast of Thailand after raiding his home last night in search of child pornography.
Authorities in Udon Thani province arrested a man known as Sia Por on a tip from the mother of a 14-year-old girl who was allegedly coerced to meet the man for a photoshoot in exchange for THB600. Her mother contacted the police after learning what had happened from a friend of her daughter.
Soon after the girl, and another 16-year-old girl, returned from the house to complain to police. The police obtained an arrest warrant to search a one-story home in Udon Thani city.
Inside the house, two 15-year-old girls were found living in one of two bedrooms along with video equipment, two condoms, and a bottle of liquor. The two girls told authorities the man had not forced them to do anything and said they were treated like family.
The two girls were taken to a local shelter.
The master bedroom was found to be used as a photo studio. A computer was allegedly found full of child pornography. Three cameras, 20 memory cards, three laptops, a PC, and 15 mobile phones were seized as evidence.
Sia Por told authorities that he had only taken photos of children for his personal use for about a month, claiming he deleted them later. He denied having any sexual relations with the minors.
He has been charged with possessing child pornography. Further investigation could see him charged with child abuse.
