Phuket Police rebuke rape inaction claim

PHUKET: The Phuket police officer accused of inaction in the investigation of the alleged rape of a 9-year-old girl has rebuked the claim, saying that the mother of the child knew that the suspect had been charged and subsequently released on court bail.

The mother even saw him personally last Friday before filing her complaint at the Damrongtham Center (Provincial Ombudsman’s Office) yesterday morning, Lt Col Rassada Kluengwong of Tah Chat Chai Police Station told the Phuket Gazette.

“We arrested the man and charged him with rape on October 8, the day after the mother reported the incident to the police,” Col Rassada explained.

“Once we arrested the suspect and filed the charge against him, we transferred him to Phuket Provincial Court. The mother and the victim were questioned by the Public Prosecutor, which means the initial legal steps have already been completed,” said Lt Col Rassada.

Police are now waiting for confirmation of the results of the victim’s physical examination.

“Thalang Hospital [which conducted the initial examination] sent samples to a laboratory in Bangkok to confirm the results that the girl was raped,” Col Rassada said.

“However, I do not know which laboratory it is. When the hospital receives the results, they will let us know and we will attach the report to the case file to be sent to the prosecutor for continue legal action,” he explained.

Col Rassada confirmed that the suspect has been freed on court bail.

“I am not sure how much the suspect was granted bail for. I heard it was 300,000 baht. The bail was granted after consideration by the court. I had no part in that decision as police do not have authority at that level,” he added

Col Rassada told the Gazette he was confused by the complaint against him.

“Last Friday, October 12, the mother and a Phu Yai Baan [village chief], who is also a civil defense volunteer, came to see me at the police station. I explained to them how the case is going.

“I talked to her to make sure that she understood the situation. She said she did. Before she left, she even smiled and it seemed like she fully understood the process,” he said.

“I have no idea why she filed a complaint at the Damrongtham Center or why she took her daughter there as well, as it will only affect the girl,” he added.

Col Rassada did express concern about whether or not the suspect had threatened any people involved in the case.

“If any threats have been made, she should have filed a complaint to the court to rescind the bail of the suspect instead of filing a complaint at the Damrongtham Center,” he said.

“By law, if a suspect threatens witnesses of the plaintiffs, the plaintiffs have the right to file a complaint to the court asking to rescind the bail of the suspect,” Col Rassada added.

— Chutharat Plerin