Update to Secrets Bar & Hotel Raid Leads to Foreigner’s Arrest, Links to Websites Disclosed

Conclusion: Do not blatantly admit what goes on in the bar on your own named websites open to the public worldwide and don't have a white, foreigner manager on site. Pattaya Secrets was an easy target for the police to make a strong statement.

Update: National Police Crackdown on Human Trafficking in Pattaya and make arrests. The first arrest by the Thai national police has been made of a foreign manager at Pattaya Secrets. Foreigners should not be involved in managing bars on the premises in the entertainment district zoned specifically for the "red light" district.

Operating bars is on the list of prohibited acts and a work permit can not be issued. However, a work permit for managing a restaurant can be granted under certain conditions. Please see http://pattaya-times.com/a7764-foreign-business-act-b-e-2542-1999

“Pattaya Secrets” nightclub in Soi 14 Walking Street Pattaya was raided in the early morning of June 13th leading to the arrest and jailing of its manager, American national Larry Lee Grayhart, 56-years old. Please see http://pattaya-times.com/a7747-secrets-bar-hotel-raid-leads-to-foreign-manager-s-arrest

Arrested with him was Pattaya Secrets Thai national Ms. Chuchai Kaetsopha, 31-years old.

Thailand Crime Suppression Police Lieutenant Colonel Kwanphichai Manojaroensub led his undercover police team to raid the Secrets nightclub after being informed of alleged prostitution and possible underage girls working on the premises.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Kwanphichai and his undercover team are based at the Bangkok headquarters of the Crime Suppression Division, which is under the Command of Police General Supisarn Pakdeenaruenart.

An Englishman identified only as “Ben” is the owner of Secrets according to Howard Miller in a YouTube video.

Also, in an interview with well-known internet columnist "Stickman" on http://www.stickmanweekly.com/StickMarkII/ANormalGuyLivingInAnExtremeCity.htm Howard Miller, the then group leader of the Tourist Police Volunteers on Walking Street, said he moved from England to Pattaya because, "about 6 years ago a good friend of mine who is well known in Pattaya, Ben from Secrets, spoke to me while I was in England.”

Howard Miller went on to say, “He said, 'You've got to come over to Pattaya. It is really good, lots of fun.' At the time in the UK I was between jobs. I thought ok, I will come over." 

Bangkok-based Thailand Crime Suppression Police Lieutenant Colonel Kwanphichai Manojaroensub filed criminal charges at the Pattaya Police station on Soi 9, against Larry Grayhart after a sting operation revealed he participated in selling prostitution services.

Now the Pattaya Police will make decisions as to how far to pursue this case depending on what settlement could be reached.  

http://pattaya-times.com/a7764-foreign-business-act-b-e-2542-1999