Chinese woman escapes attempted rape and murder in Pattaya
A Chinese woman is seeking justice after she managed to escape from a Thai man who tried to rape and kill her near a roadside forest beside Siam Country Club in Pattaya. Police are currently searching for the suspect.
The Chinese victim, 29 year old Meilin, and her younger brother, 19 year old Chen, called officers from the Nong Prue Police Station to the forest along the Polo-Ban Bueng Road in Pattaya at 10.30pm yesterday, February 18. Officers found that some of the forest was burned at a radius of about 70 to 80 metres.
Police reported that Meilin appeared frightened and initially provided confused information to the police. After calming down, she recounted the incident with the help of an interpreter. According to Meilin, she and her brother wanted to go to Walking Street in Pattaya and were waiting for public transport on Sattahip-Nakhon Ratchasima Road, about 10 kilometres away from the attempted rape scene.
Then, two Thai men rode past them on motorcycles and offered them a ride. Meilin said she and her brother agreed to go with Thai men and got on separate motorcycles. Unfortunately, the Thai motorcycle rider took Meilin on a different route.
The Thai man stopped in a remote area, forced Meilin off the motorcycle, and tied her arms. Police noted signs of her wrists being tied. He attempted to rape her but was unsuccessful. Frustrated, the man then applied lotion to Meilin’s body to remove his fingerprints, set fire to the scene and left her to die in the middle of the fire.
The suspect also stole her money before fleeing. The total loss was about 86,000 baht including 15,000 yuan in cash, (76,000 baht), and 10,000 baht in cash.
Meilin said she burned the rope at her wrist and managed to escape from the fire. She contacted her brother and later reported the matter to the police.
Suspect at large
Police officer Jeerasak Abfaeng reported that officers found the woman suspicious because no other struggle signs were shown, except the injuries on her wrists. Her clothes also looked clean just like nothing had happened to her.
Meilin showed a video to the police, recorded while on the suspect’s motorcycle, expressing her need for help and concern about her diverted route.
In the video, the suspect wore a helmet, a dark blue long-sleeve jacket, and motorcycle gloves. He carried a backpack in the front and used a black Honda Wave 125. The motorcycle was seen riding on Huay Yai Road toward Sukhumvit Road.
Meilin’s video also showed that her brother was on another motorcycle ahead of her before the Thai man changed the direction.
Further investigation revealed Meilin’s belongings, including burned trousers, a passport, and a hotel key card, 10 meters away from the scene. Meilin explained that she ran to that spot, and changed her clothes while waiting for her brother.
The evidence provided credibility to Meilin’s complaint. Police reviewed security cameras in the area and nearby to identify the suspect. They managed to identify the motorcycle rider who took Meilin’s brother to Pattaya, a 40 year old man named Mai. Police did not find anything suspicious with his statement and later let Mai go.
Officers reported that they also knew the identity of the suspect and would summon the man for questioning soon.
