Train murder suspect previously raped two colleagues
Opens for the third consecutive day Bangkok Post today with the case of the raped and murdered Kaem (13). The railways are investigating the suspect's claim that he raped two female colleagues earlier this year.
Both did not report; in one case, the rape was alleged to have been consensual.
SRT Governor Prapas Chongsanguan had to apologize for a second time for an ill-considered statement. He had said that the railways (State Railway of Thailand, SRT) had not previously experienced sexual assault. Prapas defended himself with: 'I am new to the SRT. I had no knowledge of a sexual assault more than ten years ago.'
Prapas referred to a rape in 2001 when a student was raped by an employee on the night train Sungai Kolok-Bangkok. Unlike the two other victims, she did report the crime. So far, the SRT has refused to compensate her. The first statement Prapas had to swallow was his claim that the suspect was not an employee of the SRT but a temporary worker.
The police took the suspect to Wang Pong station yesterday for a re-enactment (reconstruction) of the crime. He had taken three speed pills and was drinking beer with colleagues when he noticed the girl. He turned off the light in the compartment where the girl slept, opened a window [to muffle noises] and assaulted her.
The newspaper's website states that he first strangled and raped her in an unconscious state, but the newspaper does not report this. When she came to, he strangled her again. According to him, she was still alive when he pushed the body out the window.
Kaem's family went to the Royal Thai Police yesterday to thank her for solving the case. She received 100.000 baht compensation from the Rights and Liberties Department of the Ministry of Justice.
The railway police have deployed more manpower on the trains. There will be more patrols in sleeping cars. Police admit they have been restricted until now so as not to disturb passengers.
The Stop Drink Network is calling for a ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol on trains and stations. Sales in the dining car must be strictly regulated. The Permanent Secretary of the Secretary promises to take action.
(Source: Bangkok Post, July 10, 2014)
More background information in:
Death penalty! The death penalty for killer Kaem
Large-scale search for missing girl (13)