Three weeks after proudly declaring Pattaya’s red-light district prostitution-free, the coastal town’s acting police chief lost his job after a raid turned up a teen girl being sold for sex.

Acting police chief Pongphan Wongmaneethet, elevated to the job just earlier this month, was removed from his post yesterday following a raid on the (sigh) “Coming Bar” led to the discovery of one 17-year-old girl.

Tips to a government complaint center led a combined force of special administrative officers to the bar in Soi Pattaya 6. Officers from the same agency earlier this month joined a police tour of Pattaya’s Walking Street, which has one of the world’s highest densities of sex workers per square meter, whereupon it was declared no prostitution could be detected.

Coming Bar’s two foreign owners, who have not been identified, will be prosecuted and deported, according to police.

A page advertising the Coming Bar had numerous posts looking for “beautiful Thai girls” 18 to 35 to meet foreign men for earnings upward of THB40,000 (US$1,300) per month.

Grove: Coconuts Brand Studio

Fast. Funny. Digital. We produce creativity that delights and influences customers. Join forces with us to slay buzzwords, rise above the noise, and sow the seeds of something great.