Suspects arrested in Finnish assault case

PHUKET: Police arrested two suspects yesterday wanted for attacking a female Finnish tourist and stealing her handbag on Saturday.

Nat Roongrojchanakorn, 18, and Thanathip Siriwat, 19, confessed to the snatching as well as the assault on Mari Inkeri Ruohonen, noting that they were high on a kratom-based drink at the time.

Ms Ruohonen was attacked and seriously wounded when she resisted the bag snatching attempt from the two men (story here).

“Our investigators found Mr Nat riding a motorbike that matched the one used in the incident at the Land and House complex in Chalong. After we searched his home and found clothes matching those worn during the attack, we brought him to the station for questioning,” said Karon Police Superintendent Sompong Boonrat.

“We also found him in possession of the box cutter used to slash Ms Ruohonen.”

Mr Nat told police that he was driving around with Mr Thanathip looking for victims prior to the attack on Ms Ruohonen, and confessed that they had also snatched a Chinese tourist’s bag that same night, but did not land any valuables in that heist.

Both men have been charged with theft causing serious injury and carrying a weapon in public without reasonable cause.

“The pair said they regretted that Ms Ruohonen was injured and apologized for casting Phuket in a negative light,” Col Sompong added.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong