A woman convicted of trafficking two young women and forcing them into prostitution has been ordered to pay £3,815 under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Mananchaya Wanitthanawet, 42, is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence for exploiting two vulnerable young women from Thailand.
Confiscation Order Settlement Reached
Prosecutors brought a confiscation order against Wanitthanawet to strip her of crime profits, and a judge at the High Court in Edinburgh was informed that a settlement has now been reached. Advocate depute Bryan Heaney stated it was agreed under the settlement that Wanitthanawet's benefit from criminal conduct amounted to £123,000, but the available amount for a confiscation order was £3,815.
Deceptive Recruitment and Exploitation
Wanitthanawet lured the women to the United Kingdom by telling them they would work in a massage parlour, but instead forced them to provide sexual services to repay supposed debts. The victims were compelled to have sex with up to 15 men a day at addresses in Dundee, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Inverness.
One victim expressed feeling trapped, saying, "In my heart, I wanted to escape from that situation, but I had no money, no passport and spoke no English, so then I cry." She described feeling like her "hands were tied."
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Wanitthanawet was convicted in August 2024 of recruiting and transporting the women, featuring them in adverts for sexual services, and forcing them into prostitution between July 2019 and July 2022. Lord Scott sentenced her to nine years in jail in November 2024 at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Lord Scott told Wanitthanawet, "This involved the deliberate degrading of fellow human beings. What you put them through was dehumanising. It deprived them of the ability to act as they wished or in their own interests. They were valued only as a source of profit."
He added, "You are clearly an intelligent person, as evidenced by your degree in business and economics. Unfortunately, you have chosen to use your intelligence and business skills in the exploitation of two vulnerable young women who found themselves trapped into prostitution in a foreign country thousands of miles from their homes and families."
Police Response and Public Awareness
Detective Inspector Simon Murray emphasized at the time of Wanitthanawet's conviction that "human trafficking has no place in Scotland." He stated, "We will continue to target criminals who abuse, control and exploit people, working with partners nationally and internationally to bring offenders to justice, and to raise public awareness to help identify victims and ensure they get the support they need."
Murray highlighted the role of local communities, noting, "People within local communities are often the first to spot when someone may be trafficked or is being exploited. If you have concerns, or information, please report this to us on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 so we can investigate and take action."
Background on Proceeds of Crime Act
The Proceeds of Crime Act was introduced to the House of Commons in 2002 by then home secretary Lord Blunkett. This legislation allows law enforcement agencies to seize assets derived from criminal activities, aiming to disrupt and deter organised crime by removing financial incentives.
