Police apprehended a young rider who lured a 15-year-old female student passenger to his home, sexually assaulted her, then took her home while threatening her not to tell anyone. He confessed to having committed the act four times, mostly targeting female students.
At the Child and Women’s Welfare Division (CWWD) on 11 Aug, Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen. Pallop Aermla, Deputy Commissioner, Pol. Col. Supachai Chaisuwan, CWWD Chief, Pol. Lt. Col. Peeyarat Wessakosol, Deputy Chief, and Pol. Lt. Chakri Nareepon, investigator, announced the arrest of Thanaphat, aka Kai, age 20, on charges of abducting and taking a minor over 15 but under 18 for immoral purposes without consent, and forcible rape. He was arrested at a gas station along Suksawat Road, Lad Luang Municipality, Phra Pradaeng District, Samut Prakan Province.
On 9 Aug, the mother of a 15-year-old female student from a local school filed a complaint at CWWD, urging expedited action after her daughter was raped by a rider working for a popular motorcycle app. The report had been filed at Ratburana Police Station around 04:00 on 8 Aug.
She recounted that at 23:30 on 7 Aug, her daughter hired the young rider to take her to a friend’s house, then requested to be taken home afterward. On the way back, the suspect diverted from the route and brought her to his home, where he forcibly dragged her inside, assaulted her, strangled her, and confiscated her mobile phone before raping her to climax. Afterwards, he took her home and threatened her not to report the incident to police or anyone else. The CWWD investigation team, recognizing the serious threat to society, promptly checked the suspect’s phone number and planned his immediate arrest.
During interrogation, Thanaphat confessed he was an alumnus of the same school as the victims and had previously lured and raped female students four times. The arrest team has interviewed two female victims for further prosecution and believes there are more victims. The suspect would ride around various schools offering motorcycle services via an app because his fares were cheaper than regular motorcycle taxis, attracting female students who then became victims. It is suspected there are many more victims. The arrest team coordinated with investigators at Ratburana Police Station to expand the investigation and have handed the suspect over for prosecution.