Five Phuket teens accused of gang rape

PHUKET CITY: Five teenagers, including two girls, were arrested yesterday for allegedly gang raping a 14-year-old Thai-Japanese girl at a house in Phuket City last week.

Police say the two girls held the victim down while the three boys raped her.

All five suspects are 14 to16 years of age.

Their faces covered with balaclavas, the youths were presented to a press conference at Phuket City Police Station yesterday.

The event was presided over by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong and Phuket City Superintendent Wanchai Ekpornpit

The victim sneaked out of her house last Monday to stay with the two girls, who she believed were her friends.

The alleged rape took place at a house on Soi Phuthon, off Bangkok Road in Phuket City, police said.

Last Wednesday, the three boys came to the house. The rape took place at around 1pm that day, police said.

One of the three boys was reportedly the victim’s boyfriend.

The girl’s mother tried to find her daughter. Eventually locating her at the house on Soi Phuthon, she informed the police what had happened.

The five suspects were arrested at their homes at around 11pm yesterday.

— Atchaa Khamlo