Thai child rescue allegedly a scam

9 Jan 2012

Thai police are investigating the rescue by an Australian charity of endangered children in Northern Thailand last year. The Grey Man rescue organisation stands accused of faking the rescue of Akha hilltribe children in the adjacent Chiang Mai province of Chiang Rai.

The Brisbane-based foundation staged the heavily publicised operation at Baan Khun Suay village and saved 21 youngsters from lives of sexual slavery. After the rescue had taken place, The Grey Man posted up photographs of the children on its website and also on Facebook and requested funds for the care of them.

A subsequent investigation into the fates of the children by the independent TRAFCORD (Anti-trafficking Co-ordination Unit) and the Thai Department of Special Investigations (DSI) is said to have revealed that the children had in fact never left home and were still going to school. TRAFCORD also alleged the children had suffered due to the heavy hype surrounding their supposed salvation from lives of abuse.

Australian Federal Police representatives attended a meeting at DSI HQ in Bangkok over the weekend. DSI officials are believed to have asked their Australian counterparts to start an investigation in Australia into The Grey Man’s use of bogus advertising to solicit donations.

The Grey Man operates mainly in Southeast Asia with the avowed intention of stopping children from being drawn into or trapped in the sex trade. Charity president John Curtis said his organisation’s activities were 100 per cent transparent and there was nothing to hide from any Thai or Australian investigations team.

Tags: child rescue scam