Phuket police charge man with attempted rape of Australian tourist

PHUKET: Police have charged a man for the alleged attempted rape of an Australian tourist at a resort on Koh Maphrao, an island off the east coast of Phuket.

“We have the man in custody. He surrendered to police after we sent many officers to the island after the woman reported the incident,” said Capt Nucharee Longkaew of the Phuket City Police.

“The suspect has been charged with attempted rape and is now in the custody of the Phuket Provincial Court.

“I cannot reveal much about the case as it is still under investigation. We have to be fair to both parties.”

Staff at a resort on the island notified police of the incident last Wednesday morning, Capt Nucharee explained.

“Phuket City Police Superintendent Sermphan Sirikong immediately dispatched officers to investigate,” she said.

“I questioned the victim last Thursday. Initially, she did not want to talk about it, but she later agreed to talk to me.

“I returned to Phuket at about 10pm that night and applied for the arrest warrant. The man later surrendered, and the victim gave her statement to the court last Friday.”

The woman told Capt Nucharee she would leave Phuket last Saturday, the day after testifying to the court.

“I don’t know if the woman has returned home, but she no longer needs to be present for us to continue our investigation,” Capt Nucharee said.

“We have her statement. It is now up to police to collect evidence and proceed with the case – and let the judge hand down the verdict.”

— Chutharat Plerin