An Akha woman, Ms. Meitinee Wongsa (Prisoner ID at Changi Prison S12369) who was trafficked into Singapore in 2004 returned to Singapore with her fiance to marry. She was traveling on her own passport, but was arrested. The Immigration department said that since she came into the country on papers provided by her employer in the past, at 18, she would be charged for illegal entry in 2004. This month she was sentenced to a year in Changi Prison.
The name of the trafficker and business from that period is known in Hatyai, Thailand.
There are also persons in Singapore involved in requesting these women.
But once again, the victim is charged. In Thailand where it is very hard for the Akha to get their own ID card and passport, this Akha woman had finally succeeded.
But this is her reward.
She was not arrested when she was sent out of the country in 2004, apparently due to arrangements with the trafficker not to disturb business. Because she was sent back the trafficker told the Akha woman she must work two years in the brothel to pay back $2500 US that the Singapore police “fined” her.
Full details at http://www.akha.org
Please contact your nearest Singapore Consulate or Embassy regarding the trafficking of this Akha woman, that she is not victimized twice.
There are also other Akha women in the prison.
