Leader of Australian Sex-Slave Rescue Charity Quits Amid Fakery Claims

The founder of an Australian charity that won renown and donors for undercover operations to rescue underage sex workers in Thailand has resigned following allegations that the organization exaggerated the success of its missions, Melbourne daily The Age reports.

Sean McBride, the former army commando who led the Grey Man, told the charity’s board that “personal issues” between him and the group’s associates in Thailand were interfering with its work.

Police in the city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand cut ties with the charity amid claims that the organization faked a rescue of supposedly trafficked children from hill tribes. A Grey Man operative in the Asian country has also said the charity has lowered victims’ ages in rescue claims.

Mr. McBride denied the allegations, which he said arise from “corruption and vested interests” in Thailand. He said the Grey Man is “fully cooperating” with the Thai investigation.