Crime
Thai Van Driver Arrested then Subsequently Released by Police for Alleged Rape of Cambodian Woman
SA KAEW – Thai police have arrested an inter-provincial passenger van driver for allegedly raping a Cambodian woman who was alone in his cab with him on her way from Prachin Buri to Sa Kaew province on Thursday.
Thailand’s Nation newspaper reported that Song Lompad, 52, carried out the attack on a 33 year-old Cambodian woman in Sa Kaew’s Wang Nam Yen district at 11pm.
He was arrested when she managed to call her husband who reported the case to police.
The victim said that after other passengers were dropped off at Rong Klua market in Aranyaprathet, she was alone with the driver.
He promised to take her to her home in Wang Nam Yen, but he made an excuse about driving to fill the car with petrol, and raped her along the way.
She managed to call her husband at the petrol station and he reported it to the police, who arrested him a short time later, the newspaper said.
Soum Chankea, a coordinator with the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) in Banteay Meanchey province of Cambodia, told the Khmer Times that it seemed like the Cambodian government had not taken any concrete action with regards to the alleged rape indecent.
“It is not the first time Thai people have committed crimes against Cambodian people, such as detaining Cambodian women in a room for two or three weeks and putting pictures of them on social media,” he said.
“Now a van driver rapes a Cambodian woman.”
Mr Chankea told the Khmer Times that Thai laws were enforced with a bias toward Cambodian citizens. He said he heard that this case was settled with a deposit of money to the police, leading to the release of the suspect.
What’s even worse is that the Thai police did not arrest him and instead they allegedly released him after a payment was made.”
“It is regretful that the Cambodian government did not take strong actions to push for the punishment of the culprit.” Mr Chankea said.