Bangkok: After six years on the run from an arrest warrant, a 23-year-old man has been apprehended by a commando unit at Bangkok Central Station. He is accused of luring a 14-year-old girl via Facebook and sexually assaulting her in Chiang Rai province.
According to Thai News Agency, a commando unit from the 4th Division of the Special Operations Command arrested the man on charges of child abduction and sexual assault of a child under 15 years old. The arrest occurred while he was preparing to flee to Rayong Province.
This case dates back to May 2019. The suspect had been communicating with a 14-year-old girl via Facebook, eventually becoming acquainted with her, and then invited her to meet him in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province. On May 18, the girl left her home in Doi Luang District to meet the suspect, and during this meeting, he sexually assaulted her.
On May 25th, the suspect lured the girl to meet him again and committed the sexual abuse once more. The girl's mother learned of this and filed a police report. After committing the crime, the suspect evaded arrest for six years until an informant tipped them off that the suspect was spotted near Bangkok Central Station. Officers then proceeded to investigate. Upon locating a person matching the description in the arrest warrant, they identified themselves and requested to conduct a search.
The suspect confessed that in 2019, while helping his mother sell goods in Chiang Rai province, he met the victim through Facebook. They arranged to meet at the Mae Sai border crossing, went sightseeing, and had a relationship. The victim then came to see him again, and the incident repeated itself. Upon learning that a police report had been filed, he decided to flee and has remained at large ever since.
In this case, police have filed charges, informed the suspect of their rights, and detained him before sending him to the Juvenile and Family Court in Chiang Rai Province for further legal proceedings. They also warned children and youth to be cautious when communicating with strangers via social media and to avoid meeting them alone. Parents are urged to closely monitor their children's behavior and report any suspicious activity to 191 or the 1300 hotline immediately. The message emphasized, "Don't trust strangers online," and "The light from the screen may hide the dark intentions within."