Police in Pattaya are holding a 69-year-old Dutchman who is alleged to have procured Thai boys for sex with foreigners.
Marie Joseph Hendrikus Hyacinthus was apprehended at 1.30am on Sunday in Pattaya by a police team, led by Police Region 2 deputy commander Chetha Kamolwathana, who is also head of the Children and Women Family Protection and Anti Human Trafficking Centre of Provincial Police Region 2.
The arrest was made during a sting operation launched on suspicion that the Dutchman was supplying young boys for sex with foreigners in Pattaya.
Two foreigners serving as police agents contacted Mr Hyacinthus, asking him for four Thai boys. He was arrested when he showed up at a hotel where the young boys were to be handed over.
Mr Hyacinthus was found to have been blacklisted by Thai immigration for one year and deported on Sept 10, 2016. He claimed to have slipped back into Thailand in May last year.
He allegedly told investigators after Sunday’s arrest that he paid an immigration officer at Chong Jom checkpoint in Surin's Kab Choeng district 3,000 baht to let him cross the border from Cambodia.
Mr Hyacinthus denied all charges in connection with the sex trade.
Police deputy spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen said on Monday the Immigration Bureau found no record of Mr Hyacinthus entering Thailand through any legal entry point.
The suspect had tried to enter the country, but had been rejected by Immigration officers, Pol Col Krissana said. It was not possible the suspect entered Thailand through a legal crossing point.
Regarding the alleged bribe, the deputy police spokesman said no irregularities had been uncovered.
An investigation will be carried out to ascertain how the suspect entered Thailand.
