Phuket tattoo artist arrested for sexually assaulting minor

A prominent tattoo artist was finally apprehended at a Phuket lodging house today, in a raid by law enforcement marking an end to a nationwide manhunt. The charges against him included sexually assaulting a 13 year old girl, whose injuries were so severe that she had to undergo a hysterectomy.

The harrowing ordeal began when the young girl visited the tattoo artist, Game SoWat, to get a small tattoo for 400 baht after having arranged the appointment through Facebook. After the shop closed, the 25 year old tattoo artist lured her to the second floor before sexually assaulting her.

The girl suffered abnormal pain for a month following the incident, leading to a hospital visit where a severe infection was discovered, necessitating emergency surgery.

The girl’s family, with the help of the Children’s Foundation, filed a police report at Tha Kham Police Station. On April 11, the Tha Kham police issued a warrant for Game SoWat, also known as Vasin.

While investigators were summoning the suspect for questioning, he sensed trouble and fled. The diligent work of the investigative team led them to Phuket, where they found him with another young woman on the night of his birthday.

During interrogation, Vasin admitted to having sexual relationships with over 100 women, often without protection, which led to him previously contracting syphilis, which he claims to have treated.

Accused innocence

He claimed innocence in this case, suggesting the girl’s complications were unrelated to him.

Previously, Vasin had been involved in a case with a 17 year old girl, which was settled out of court for 70,000 baht. He chose to flee to Phuket due to lucrative opportunities and the ease of blending in with the impending tourism influx.

Additionally, Vasin’s past also includes a prior offence of child abduction at Tha Kham Police Station in 2016. Following his recent arrest, he was turned over to Tha Kham police for legal proceedings.

Police Major General Theeradech Thamsutee, the lead investigator, expressed scepticism about Vasin’s confession, placing more trust in the victim’s account.

He also called for continued vigilance among parents and guardians and urged anyone with information on similar crimes to come forward, assuring that officers are ready to respond around the clock, as reported by Khaosod.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of children and the importance of community awareness in preventing such crimes.

As the case proceeds through the legal system, it also underscores the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in protecting minors and bringing perpetrators to justice.