Thai transwoman nabbed after Indian gold heist goes off-chain
Police arrested a Thai transwoman and her friend for physically assaulting an Indian man and stealing his gold necklace, valued at 120,000 baht, at a hotel in the southern province of Songkhla. The incident occurred after the victim refused her sexual services, claiming she looked different from her online profile.
The 41 year old Indian victim filed a complaint at Hat Yai Police Station, stating that a Thai transwoman attacked him at a hotel in the Hat Yai area of Songkhla and fled with his gold necklace. The exact date of the incident has not been disclosed.
The victim explained that he met the transwoman on a chat application called MiChat. Finding her attractive, he arranged to meet her at the hotel for sexual services. However, upon meeting, he realised she looked different from her profile picture on the app and decided to cancel the arrangement.
The transwoman reportedly demanded 500 baht as compensation for her wasted time but the Indian man refused to pay. In response, she called a friend to the hotel room, physically assaulted the man, and then fled the scene on a motorcycle with the gold necklace.
Police identified the transwoman as 26 year old Pawonrat “Season” Thephanan and her accomplice as 26 year old Apirut “Kwang” Yuheem. CCTV footage from the hotel showed that Season assaulted the Indian man alone, while Kwang waited outside and helped her flee on a motorcycle.
Steal by mistake
To apprehend the suspects, police posed as a client and contacted Season via MiChat. When Season and Kwang arrived at a hotel to meet the undercover officers, they were arrested. A search of their rented accommodation uncovered the stolen gold necklace and 0.24 grammes of crystal methamphetamine.
Season claimed she did not intend to steal the necklace and planned to return it if the Indian man paid the compensation she demanded. However, when the man refused to pay, she and her friend left the scene, allegedly forgetting they still had the necklace in their possession.
The report did not specify the punishments the suspects face. However, based on their actions, they could be charged with the following:
- Section 295 of the Criminal Law: physically assaulting another person and causing mental or physical injury. The penalty is up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to 40,000 baht, or both.
- Section 334 of the Criminal Law: stealing property of another person. The penalty is imprisonment for up to three years and a fine of up to 60,000 baht.
- Section 162 of the Narcotics Act: Using a Category 1 drug. The penalty includes up to one year in prison, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both.
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