An Austrian expatriate has been sentenced to 1,673 years in a Thai prison for the repeated sexual abuse of his young daughter. The 54-year-old, originally from western Austria, will likely die behind bars, as Thai law caps actual imprisonment at 50 years. The offences took place in Nakhon Ratchasima province, north-east Thailand, over several years.
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The man, who already had a previous conviction for child abuse in Austria, began abusing his daughter when she was just eight years old. He had sole custody of the child after separating from his partner. The abuse included handing the girl over twice to a photographer, who also assaulted her and produced nude images that the father then distributed.
When the child, given the pseudonym Anong by the newspaper, tried to escape the cycle of abuse, her father threatened to abandon her. Emotional blackmail and fear of being left alone forced the girl to endure the suffering for years. An international charity eventually alerted authorities to a chat group in which the Austrian shared grotesque images of his daughter.
The investigation began following that tip, but it took four years before a final court ruling delivered justice. The man was convicted of 134 separate offences, with Thai law counting each rape as an individual crime, explaining the exceptionally long sentence. The verdict is legally binding.
Andreas Holzer, director of Austria’s Federal Criminal Police Office, said: “This case shows once again how essential international cooperation and close exchange between Interior Ministry liaison officers and local authorities are.” He added that investigations were rapidly advanced in order to protect the affected child.
Krone reported that the Austrian will serve a maximum of 50 years in practice due to Thai sentencing caps, effectively a life sentence. No further legal appeals have been reported. The case highlights ongoing efforts by Thai and Austrian authorities to track down convicted sex offenders who relocate abroad.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Krone 27 May 2026