Bangkok man arrested over alleged koi fish sexual abuse

Bangkok police have arrested a 51-year-old Thai man after CCTV footage allegedly showed him entering a private koi pond and sexually abusing fish at a home in the Thung Song Hong area.

The suspect, identified as Sutthichai, also known as Tong, was detained on 10 September after police traced him to Lak Si. The case remains under investigation, with officers considering possible charges including animal cruelty, property damage, committing an indecent act and trespassing at night.

CCTV prompted complaint

Police said the alleged incident occurred outside the house on 7 September. Footage showed a man arriving by bicycle at 8.30pm, looking around the property, exposing himself and attempting to catch koi swimming in the pond.

At 8.38pm, he was recorded undressing, climbing into the pond and sexually abusing the fish before putting them back into the water, police said.

The housekeeper and homeowner then found the man, who left on his bicycle. The owner, Bobby, gave chase but fell in his flip-flops and suffered injuries. He later made a report at Thung Song Hong Police Station.

Investigators believed the suspect was local because he had escaped by bicycle. Officers found Sutthichai walking in Lak Si on the afternoon of 10 September, reportedly still wearing the clothes seen on the night of the alleged offence. He attempted to flee but was caught and detained.

During questioning, police said Sutthichai admitted the acts. He told officers he had gone to wash but became aroused after seeing the fish, and said he had abused them twice.

Owner says koi had been dying

Sutthichai told police he had no money to go out and no partner. He said he had committed similar acts involving other fish, choosing koi rather than pleco fish because plecos have spines and caused him more pain.

He also said he had previously been jailed by Bang Khen police after abusing a dog, and had carried out similar acts with a doll found in rubbish. He admitted using drugs, telling police he could not afford to buy them and had used drugs he found.

Bobby said he had kept the koi for seven to eight years. He had often seen Sutthichai walking nearby and occasionally stopping to wash, but had not been concerned.

The homeowner said koi had been dying one or two at a time, with bent bodies, which he initially believed was caused by fish fighting. Although the home had CCTV, he rarely checked it until the afternoon of 7 September, when Sutthichai threw a sex toy beside the pond. The housekeeper disposed of it and the camera was redirected towards the pond.

Bobby said he later found Sutthichai near Lak Si and called a patrol unit, but the man ran across a road and escaped before police subsequently tracked him down.

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

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12 September 2026