Woman, 83, Assaulted in Maha Sarakham Rice Field

An 83-year-old woman reported a sexual assault while digging for crabs near her village in Maha Sarakham, Thailand. The incident, shared online for public safety, occurred earlier this week in Ban Non Khewa, Ngua Ba subdistrict. The perpetrator approached the woman in a rice field, touched her inappropriately, and performed a sexual act on himself before fleeing.

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The victim, who lives in the community, typically works alone in the fields. She noticed the man arriving on a motorcycle and remaining for about 10 minutes before approaching. Unfamiliar with the man, she noted he did not cover his face and believed he was not from the village.

After the incident, she struggled to compose herself enough to ride her bicycle back to the village, opting instead to push it. She reported the matter to Sanguan Mungmee, the village head, who advised residents to exercise caution. Sanguan stated this type of incident was unprecedented in the community.

The victim declined to file a police complaint, questioning whether a crime was committed, as she insisted no physical harm occurred. Sanguan informed her rights were infringed and plans to discuss next steps with her family. Police Colonel Sumit Nansathit ordered investigators to gather information to identify the suspect but noted that police action depends on the victim filing an official report.

Looking forward, village authorities and police urge vigilance. Conversations with the victim and her relatives are expected to continue to determine if a formal complaint will be made. Significantly, the case remains at a standstill until the victim decides to formally report the incident, reported The Thaiger.

Key Takeaways

• An elderly woman reported being assaulted in Maha Sarakham, Thailand.

• The suspect fled, and the victim has not yet filed a police complaint.

• Authorities are urging vigilance and further dialogue with the victim is ongoing.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 20 Feb 2026