A Thai court has sentenced a Cambodian woman to 50 years in jail for selling other women into sex slavery.
Khun Thea received the maximum punishment under Thai law for human trafficking. Officials say Khun Thea attracted Cambodian women to Bangkok by promising them jobs as clothes sellers or waitresses. Instead, the victims were sold as sex slaves to buyers in Malaysia.
Several women who managed to escape the brothels notified authorities and eventually testified in court.
The United Nations says successful prosecution is the first major victory for Cambodian and Thai cooperation against human trafficking.