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Suspects in Rape of Russian Tourists Arrested
PATTAYA – Police on Wednesday arrested three suspects in the rape of two Russian tourists in Pattaya. One suspect Wichien Jaija, 35, was arrested on Tuesday after being linked to the truck used by the assailants on Dec 26 to abduct the two women in Pattaya.
“Police have collected a lot of evidence against the suspects, including photographs and possessions found on them that belonged to the tourists,” national police chief Pol Gen Adul Saengsingkaew said on Wednesday.
The arrest came after Chon Buri police raided a house in Bang Lamung district in Chon Buri province, acting on a tip-off that a blue pickup truck used in the attack was parked there, according to the Thai Rath online.
The truck’s owner is the wife of Mr Wichien. He was later detained at his mistress’s house in Bang Pakong district in Chachoengsao province.
His confession led to the arrests of Thongchai Jandee, 20, and Anuwat Wat-on, 32, police said.
The Russian women told police they were abducted and thrown into a pickup truck by three men on the morning of Dec 25 as they were walking back to their hotel after celebrating Christmas Eve.
They said their abductors took them to a forested area near a reservoir outside Pattaya, where they robbed and raped them at knifepoint and gunpoint.
“I would like to thank the Thai police for arresting the suspects so quickly,” said Russian deputy counsul Alexey Budanov. “I hope the police will continue to provide security for all tourists in the future.”
