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Published on November 29, 2007

The Act, which will take effect within the next 120 days, also includes measures against media outlets that publish the identity or pictures of sex crime victims. Editors could face up to six months in jail and/or a fine up to Bt60,000 if convicted of identifying victims or using photos of them without permission.

Under the Act, government officials or employees of state enterprises convicted of offences face twice the punishment that common violators might get, while those responsible for anti-trafficking operations, such as ministers of labour and human resources, would suffer triple the penalties if ever convicted.

The Act also prohibits a practice known as "tok kheo", in which young girls from upcountry areas are sold by their parents in advance to provide sex service in the future. Parents or any people soliciting for such purposes also face criminal prosecution.

Separately, Children, Juvenile and Women Division officers previously arrested a woman for sending Thai women to work as prostitutes in Bahrain without their consent.

Patchanee Chimruay, 42, protested her innocence, but has been charged with organising prostitution for profit.

The Nation