Sven Horst Jahnke, German expat living in Pattaya,
was arrested by Pattaya Police on Tuesday, October 8, and charged with
procuring Thai women for prostitution in Germany.
Sven
Horst Jahnke was arrested in his home after a determined effort by Sgt.
Phao and Lt. Thanomsak Indrabutr, special branch
Pol. Gen. Jumbhol Atthasat, Deputy Police Director, acting on a request
from The Narcotics and Organized Crime Liaison Office for South East
Asia in Bangkok, arrested Jahnke on the charge of deceiving Thai girls
and forcing them into prostitution in Berlin.
Authorities alleged that Janhke, acting with an international gang,
would tell the girls that they could get them good work with superb pay
in Germany. They offered them air tickets and help with their visas, so
that they could stay for 3 months in the country. After these girls
arrived Germany, their passports were confiscated, and many were sent
directly to the gang’s bordello. Others were forced to get married with
German men in order to extend their stay.
Jahnke allegedly demanded 30,000 German Marks (approx. 570,000 Baht)
from each girl to get them to Germany. The girls were then forced to pay
back this amount in daily installments with money they received from
prostituting themselves. Many girls have been beaten up because they
refused to go along with the condition. Many also tried to escape but
were caught, brought back into custody and beaten.
The arrest warrant alleged that Jahnke and his gang had already deceived
as many as 26 Thai girls. This information was received from German
authorities, who had him under surveillance.
While German authorities attempted to compile enough evidence to press
charges, Janhke always managed to stay a step ahead, fleeing to
Thailand, and then to Pattaya, where he felt he could get complete
protection from his gang.
When he was arrested, Sven Horst Jahnke was silent about his company and
his gang, but when asked about a Thai Massage Salon in Berlin, which
German sources said had the same activity, he answered only that he knew
of the place, but didn’t have anything to do with it.
Sven Horst Jahnke has been indicted by the Judge of the court of Berlin
City, arrest warrant no. 350 GS 1562/96, dated 3 May 1996. The German
Embassy in Thailand has since withdrawn his passport. Jahnke will now be
sent to Pattaya Immigration, then deported from the Kingdom to face
charges in Germany.
At press time, Pattaya Mail learned that an arrest warrant has been
issued for Jahnke’s wife, who allegedly runs the operation in Germany.
Police were also pursuing a courier, probably a relative, who was en
route to Germany with a large sun of cash.
