BANGKOK: Dozens of people including a general arrested in Thailand’s crackdown on human trafficking appeared in court on Tuesday to begin presenting their defense but journalists were barred from reporting trial proceedings. The kingdom has long been a major hub for human trafficking and people-smuggling, with officials accused of turning a blind eye and even of complicity. The Thai Navy has sued reporters for investigations that alleged the complicity of their officers in human trafficking. Thailand’s image has been battered in recent years by a series of human trafficking scandals—including in its lucrative fishing and food production sectors. In September a man was jailed for 35 years by a southern Thai court for masterminding a smuggling network.

Source: Manila Times January 24, 2017 08:05 UTC