Thread: Man arrested in Phuket in connection with attempted rape of Russian girl, 8

Man arrested in Phuket in connection with attempted rape of Russian girl, 8

PHUKET: Police have arrested a 30-year-old Trang man in connection with the alleged attempted rape of an eight-year-old Russian tourist at a hotel in Karon on Saturday (Jan 2).


Wutthichai has initially been charged with attempted rape of a minor under 13 years old and committing an indecent act with a minor

Pol Lt Nipon Temsang received a phone call from a member of staff of a hotel in Karon on Saturday stating that a Russian guest had told them that a Thai man had attempted to rape his eight-year-old daughter after approaching her while she played on a computer on the ground floor of the hotel.

The Russian father said that while his daughter was using the computer a man came to talk to her and lured her to another room and attempted to rape her.

According to the father, other guests at the hotel heard screams coming from the room so they broke in and saw a man escaping through a window. CCTV footage from the hotel shows a man coming to talk to the girl.

The man, Wutthichai Srithai, 30, was previously employed by the hotel as a mechanic but has since left. However, his wife is still employed there.

Police spoke to Wutthichai’s wife who told them that he was at their home in Moo 5, Srisoonthorn, Thalang, at the time of the attack.

When questioned by police, Wutthichai denied the allegations made against him and told police that he had only gone to the hotel to pick up his wife. He said that he had seen the girl playing on a computer but did not talk to her.

However, Chief of Karon Police Col Sompong Boonrat told The Phuket News today (Jan 4) that after being shown the CCTV footage of him talking to the girl he admitted that he had taken the girl to another room and attempted to rape her.

“We sent him to court today. However, we cannot provide any more information. This is a very sensitive case and we do not want to do anything that can affect it,” Col Sompong said.

“However, we can confirm that the girl is safe and has attended a hospital to be checked,” he added.

Wutthichai has initially been charged with attempted rape of a minor under 13 years old and committing an indecent act with a minor.

The attempted rape charge comes with a punishment of imprisonment of between seven to 20 years and a fine of between B14,000 – B40,000, while the indecent act charge comes with a punishment of a prison sentence of not more than 15 years and/or a fine not exceeding B30,000.

Man arrested in Phuket in connection with attempted rape of Russian girl, 8