National Park predator arrested for attempted rape of Lithuanian tourist
Police arrested an Erawan National Park employee in the central province of Kanchanaburi after he attacked a Lithuanian tourist and attempted to rape her on Wednesday, May 31.
The Lithuanian victim, 27 year old Evilija Grabauskaitem, filed a complaint at Si Sawat Police Station at 4.40pm after the Thai man attacked and tried to sexually assault her near a garbage disposal area in the Si Sawat district of Kanchanaburi.
The foreign woman explained that she rented a motorcycle and travelled alone in the national park. She went to Erawan Waterfall, but she could not get in because the area was temporarily closed. She rode a motorcycle out of the scene and met the man along the way.
According to the victim, the man presented himself as a national park officer and told her that he knew a shortcut to the waterfall. The man used a translation application to communicate with her and convinced her to follow him.
The victim was lured into following the man to the garbage disposal area he claimed was a shortcut to the waterfall. The man asked her to park a motorcycle there and led her into the forest. After walking in the forest for 300 metres, the man attacked and tried to rape her. She fought back and managed to escape and seek help from locals.
The Lithuanian woman also handed a video and picture of the man to the police. Consequently, the police were able to identify the suspect as a national park employee, 24 year old Pramote Khongkham. The suspect was summoned and questioned by the police officer yesterday.
During questioning, Pramote admitted to having the urge to rape the victim but claimed he changed his mind after she fell down and sustained injuries.
According to his account, he assisted her in exiting the forest and expressed remorse for his actions. Although he denied causing any harm, he admitted to forcefully gripping her hands. Pramote said…
“I would like to apologise to the victim. I also want to apologise to the Thai people for spoiling the country’s image. I am a bad man. It is my fault, not other Thai people. Other Thai people are different from me. I am sorry that I damaged the country’s reputation.”
Pramote was charged with committing an indecent act to another person aged over 15 years old by threatening, doing any act of violence, and taking advantage of that person who is unable to resist. The penalty will be imprisonment of up to 10 years, a fine of up to 200,000 baht, or both. His employment at the Erawan National Park was also terminated.
