Death of social media influencer Thitima Noraphanpiphat turns spotlight on Thailand’s shady ‘pretty’ industry where beautiful students are paid to attend VIP parties – as cops probe model’s ‘sex attack’ death
Critics lampoon Thailand’s shady ‘pretty’ industry where beautiful students are paid to attend VIP parties
Observers maintain the ‘pretty’ industry exists in a legal grey area where women at VIP parties can be coerced into drugs, alcohol and sex
Spotlight on the industry as cops probe model’s ‘sex attack’ death on Sept 17, after serving as hostess at a party
Thitima Noraphanpiphat’s body was found in the lobby of a Bangkok apt building
25-year-old model-for-hire was seen being dragged into a lift by a man
This was hours after she attended a party where she was paid to serve drinks
The ‘pretty’ industry in Thailand hires promotional models to attend events
Male model Rachadej Wongtabutr, allegedly, is the man seen on CCTV dragging Thitima’s lifeless body into an elevator before dumping it on a couch in the lobby
Thai authorities have already charged seven people connected to the party after CCTV footage went viral showing the main suspect dragging Thitima’s lifeless body into an elevator before dumping it on a couch in the lobby
Thitima Noraphanpiphat’s death has drawn widespread attention in Thailand: The body of model-for-hire Thitima Noraphanpiphat was found in the lobby of a Bangkok apt block on Sept 17
Thai police investigating a model’s unexplained death were hunting for more suspects in a case that has captivated the country and sparked rare outrage over the treatment of women in a poorly understood sector of the entertainment industry.
The body of model-for-hire Thitima Noraphanpiphat was found in the lobby of a Bangkok apartment block on September 17, hours after she attended a party where she was paid to serve drinks.
Police are working to press charges against anyone tied to the ‘scandal’ that led to the 25-year-old’s death, spokesman Krissana Pattanacharoen said late Saturday.
The case is front page news in Thailand and fueled speculation on social media over what happened to Thitima, who has nearly 85,000 followers on Instagram where many have posted ‘RIP’ on her photos.
The so-called ‘pretty’ industry in Thailand hires promotional models to attend clubs, product launches and car shows.
But critics say it exists in a legal grey area where women at VIP parties can be coerced into drugs, alcohol and sex.
The body of model-for-hire Thitima Noraphanpiphat [photo: L-R], was found in the lobby of a Bangkok apartment block on September 17, hours after she attended a party where she was paid to ‘serve drinks’
The so-called ‘pretty’ industry in Thailand hires promotional models like Thitima Noraphanpiphat, [photo], to attend clubs, product launches and car showsThe models can earn around $100 and up for an evening’s work – a significant amount for college students.
Police have already charged seven people connected to the party after CCTV footage went viral showing the main suspect dragging Thitima’s lifeless body into an elevator before dumping it on a couch in the lobby.
The inquiry is widening as authorities hope the case will serve as a warning.
CCTV released as mystery into death of model ‘Bell’ deepens: Thai authorities have already charged seven people connected to the party after CCTV footage went viral showing the main suspect dragging Thitima’s lifeless body into an elevator before dumping it on a couch in the lobby
‘We have opened the investigation into all these people who got involved in this scandal as well, including the agency, the manager… and the customers who enjoyed the party,’ Krissana said.
‘It just goes to show that if you cross the line this is what you will receive.’
He said police had not released an official cause of death but that a ‘very high consumption rate of alcohol’ was found in her body.
The man believed to be in the CCTV footage also works in the entertainment industry and has been identified as model Rachadej Wongtabutr.
Male model Rachadej Wongtabutr [photo], allegedly is the man seen on CCTV dragging Thitima’s lifeless body into an elevator before dumping it on a couch in the lobby. He was charged this week with illegal detention leading to death after he allegedly took Thitima from the party to his condo and left her on the lobby couch
He was charged this week with illegal detention leading to death after he allegedly took Thitima from the party to his condo and left her on the lobby couch.
Authorities say he has denied wrongdoing.
The six others were released on bail after a separate complaint from another woman hired for the party who said she blacked out and woke up with her clothes removed.
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