Man confesses to raping girl, 14

PHUKET TOWN: Witchapol “Joe” Jongsujarittham, 26, yesterday confessed to charges of raping a 14-year-old girl twice and of being in possession of an unregistered firearm, Phuket Town police said today. Pol Maj Bhanjong Amarit told the Gazette that officers arrested Witchapol outside his Phuket Town home at 9 am. Armed with a search warrant, they then checked his home and found an unregistered .32-caliber revolver and a silver-colored Toyota pick-up truck, both of which were allegedly used in committing the crime. Maj Bhanjong said, “It seems that the offender may have known the victim [before the incident], but how is still unclear. “What we do know is that the victim and her brother were in the pick-up together [with Witchapol]. The brother later got out of the truck and the other two went off together.” Maj Bhanjong explained that the girl told police that Witchapol drove his truck to a secluded location where he then raped her at gunpoint. Afterwards, he drove her to the Sukjai Motel on Komaraphat Rd where he raped her again. A motel employee later discovered her lying unconscious on the bed and called the police. She was taken to Wachira Phuket Hospital where she told officers about her ordeal. After his arrest, Witchapol was taken to Phuket Town Police Station. There, police say, he confessed. He is being held in the cells at the station awaiting trial.