British expat denies child molestation charges

PATONG, PHUKET: A British man is being held for alleged sexual assault on four young schoolboys between the ages of nine and 14.

Department of Special Investigations (DSI) officer Pol Maj Jatuporn Arunleaktawin identified the suspect as British national Dax J. Young, a 41-year-old Caucasian arrested by DSI officers and Kathu Police over the weekend in his rented home in Patong.

Collected as evidence at the home were a variety of photographs and videos of young boys, the DSI officer said.

Four young boys questioned by social workers said the Briton had molested them.

Mr Young is accused of approaching the boys near their school with gifts of snacks and computer games, then molesting them in return for money.

He is also accused of indecent exposure near the school grounds.

Mr Young, who has been living in Phuket for five years, denies the charges.

He is now being held at Phuket Provincial Prison and police are investigating further to learn whether he was involved in the production and distribution of child pornography via the Internet.

Another man is also being investigated in Phuket on similar charges, though Maj Jatuporn declined to say if the two cases are directly related.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongtong said more information would be released at a press conference, possibly tomorrow.