Crime
Thailand’s National Police Chief Confirms the Blacklisting of a British Woman
BANGKOK – Thailand’s National Police Chief Chakthip Chaijinda confirms the blacklisting of a British woman, 19, and the administrator of the CSI LA page on Facebook for reporting a “rape” on Koh Tao that has been dismissed by police.
Pol Gen Chakthip said on Wednesday that when police officially prove the rape claim was groundless, the woman and the page administrator would be blacklisted from entering the country.
He denied knowledge of the CSI LA page’s report that Interpol had agreed to process the alleged rape case. Police were hunting for the administrator of the page and had already arrested several people who shared the rape claim from the page, Pol Gen Chakthip said.
Senior police officers examine Sairee beach on Koh Tao in Surat Thani province late last month, the scene of an alleged rape. (Photo by Supapong Chaolan)
The national police chief insisted that police investigators had done their best to verify the claim that the British woman was drugged, raped and robbed on Sairee beach of Koh Tao of Surat Thani province on the night of June 25.
Detectives based their probe on forensic evidence and found the claim groundless, he said.
“Footage from about 100 local surveillance cameras was examined. Given evidence from so many cameras, a culprit would have been arrested if the incident had occurred,” Pol Gen Chakthip said.
He asserted that police investigators had not jumped to any conclusions.
Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn, deputy chief of tourist police, had already reported the finding to the British consul-general, who did not dispute it, Pol Gen Chakthip according to the Bangkok Post.
At this stage, Thai police were waiting for evidence that the British tourist reportedly planned to hand over, he said.
Meanwhile, Police have arrested nine of 12 people wanted for publishing or “sharing” a CSI LA Facebook report about the alleged rape of a 19-year-old British tourist on Koh Tao.
“We’re tracking down the other three,” who included Facebook page administrator Pramuk Anantasin, media reports quoted deputy Tourist Police chief Surachate Hakparn as saying on Wednesday.
Mr Pramuk was believed to be living in the United States, but if he returned to Thailand immigration officers would arrest him immediately, Pol Maj Gen Surachate said.
