A British national has been apprehended in Thailand in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a six-year-old girl.
The 30-year-old individual from Leeds was identified by officials at the National Crime Agency (NCA) in London following the discovery of a video depicting the abuse of the young girl. Authorities collaborated with local law enforcement to locate the suspect residing with a Thai girlfriend in the coastal resort city of Pattaya.
The individual was formally charged with the alleged rape of the girl, who is reported to have been acquainted with him through a mutual friend.
Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) released a statement confirming that the NCA had identified the suspect in the sexual abuse case.
The investigation commenced after the NCA traced child exploitation material to the suspect’s mobile device. Subsequently, UK law enforcement coordinated with their counterparts in Bangkok’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division.
Thai authorities indicated that they examined the footage of the alleged assault and cross-referenced it with various locations in Pattaya and social media activity to locate the suspect.
They have identified the victim as a seven-year-old girl who was reportedly abused at the age of six. It is believed that the arrested individual had ties to the victim’s mother. An arrest warrant was issued for the charge of “raping a minor under the age of 13,” leading to the suspect’s capture at 7:15 AM.
Armed police executed a raid on his rented accommodation at the Private Paradise Pattaya condominium on Tuesday morning. A translator was present during the arrest to communicate the charges to the suspect.
The translator conveyed: “About the unlawful actions you have committed, you are being charged with rape and statutory rape of another individual, involving the use of force, threats, and violent coercion against a person who was unable to resist or defend themselves, specifically a minor under the age of 13, who is not your spouse or legal partner.”
The actions in question have been directed towards a child who has yet to reach 13, regardless of whether the child consented. In such circumstances, the child was placed in a position where they could not resist or take any action.
Following this, the individual was formally apprehended, handcuffed, and transferred to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division for subsequent legal proceedings.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Kiatkong Thongkham from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division stated that the suspect denied all allegations and chose not to provide a statement during the arrest. The suspect is currently in custody at the police station.
Investigating officers subsequently notified the schoolgirl’s mother about the arrest. They reportedly presented evidence, prompting her to file additional complaints to be included in the charge sheet.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) informed The Sun that it has supported this investigation, particularly through the sharing of information and the development of intelligence.
