Police arrest man for rape of 10-year-old in Phuket

PHUKET: Police arrested an alleged pedophile for the rape of a 10-year-old girl in Phuket on November 11.

The 24-year-old man, who lived across the street from the girl and her parents, faces charges of separating the child from her parents, molesting a person under the age of 15 and rape.

Police took the man from Nakhon Sri Thammarat into custody under an arrest warrant issued on November 15, four days after the girl’s parents filed a complaint to Phuket City Police.

“We received a tip-off that he was hiding at a deserted resort in Karon owned by his uncle,” Maj Ratthakhet Manmuang of the Phuket City Police said.

“When we arrived, we saw him walking around the area. We quickly served the warrant and brought him into custody,” Maj Ratthakhet said.

At 6pm on November 11, the man allegedly came to the 10-year-old’s house in Phuket Town asking her parents if he could take her along to buy snacks and go to Rassada.

“Her parents allowed her to go with him, as they had been neighbors for a long time, and they knew him,” Maj Ratthaket explained.

“When their daughter arrived home about an hour later, she told them that she had been raped. Her parents went to the man’s house, but he was gone,” Maj Ratthaket said.

Doctors examined the child and found clear signs of rape on her body.

The man denied all charges.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong