In a horrifying revelation, a young German backpacker shared her traumatic experience of a sexual assault in Koh Chang, Trat province. As her attacker faces justice, the survivor broke her silence, urging caution to lone female travellers.

 

Florentina Retka, a 24 year old cruise ship worker, embarked on a solo adventure to Southeast Asia, seeking the sun-kissed shores of Thailand’s Koh Chang. Little did she know, her journey would take a harrowing turn when she booked a tour with 55 year old local guide Kasama Apichaisompon in February.

 

The idyllic day took a sinister turn when Kasama allegedly led Florentina to an isolated beach, far from the prying eyes of other tourists. As she paddled in the sea, Kasama assaulted her, robbing her of her dignity and respect.

 

Frozen with fear, Florentina recounted the horrifying moment when her assailant violated her in the water.

“He took something from me that day, my dignity, my respect.” She cautioned other solo female travellers to stay vigilant.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Photo courtesy of explorekohchang.com

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-08

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Obviously charges should be followed through but also this guy should be fully publicised to protect others....a tour guide !!!

2 hours ago, webfact said:

She cautioned other solo female travellers to stay vigilant.

A lone female, on a solo tour with someone she doesn't know.... what could possibly go wrong? 

Sad, but unfortunately happens all the time and everywhere. Certainly not the girls fault, on an open beach in daytime , she would think she was safe. 
Happens too often when you let your guard down. 

2 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

A lone female, on a solo tour with someone she doesn't know.... what could possibly go wrong? 

So basically, you believe that being on a beach in daytime with a tour guide is dangerous? Or, don’t go walking alone on a quiet beach alone ? 
Great news for female travelers . 

28 minutes ago, geisha said:

So basically, you believe that being on a beach in daytime with a tour guide is dangerous? Or, don’t go walking alone on a quiet beach alone ? 
Great news for female travelers . 

How did it end up for her... that's your answer.

1 hour ago, Megasin1 said:

Obviously charges should be followed through but also this guy should be fully publicised to protect others....a tour guide !!!

Obviously yet again READ THE FULL STORY

1 hour ago, geisha said:

So basically, you believe that being on a beach in daytime with a tour guide is dangerous? Or, don’t go walking alone on a quiet beach alone ? 
Great news for female travelers . 

He took her to an ISOLATED beach guess how I know that.

1 hour ago, geisha said:

So basically, you believe that being on a beach in daytime with a tour guide is dangerous? Or, don’t go walking alone on a quiet beach alone ? 
Great news for female travelers . 

If one of my daughters had told me that whilst in a foreign country, she'd gone with just a male tour guide for company, to a a secluded beach, I'd have been very angry with her. Because he was a tour guide didn't make him any less likely to become a sex offender. The poor girl didn't expect or deserve to be sexually assaulted, but I would advise her to use more caution in future.  

1 hour ago, arick said:

Haar beroven of wrijven? In het water. Ik denk dat het beter is dan op het zand. 

How unworthy you can be!? Do you think you're funny?

Was he actually a tour guide? or some random guy pretending to be a Guide. most tour guides have a company name, just thinking out loud.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

She cautioned other solo female travellers to stay vigilant.

Simply;

 

Avoid this Country for solo travelers. Don’t put your life in risk on these roads and never come to visit Thailand in smog season.

 

 

Perhaps they learn the lesson..

13 minutes ago, jesimps said:

If one of my daughters had told me that whilst in a foreign country, she'd gone with just a male tour guide for company, to a a secluded beach, I'd have been very angry with her. Because he was a tour guide didn't make him any less likely to become a sex offender. The poor girl didn't expect or deserve to be sexually assaulted, but I would advise her to use more caution in future.  

Exactly, its about how things are, not how they should be.  Of course you should feel safe everywhere you go but you cant so you must take steps to protect yourself by avoiding such situations.

I think any country is dangerous, for lone female travelers when going to isolated places.  

37 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Obviously yet again READ THE FULL STORY

Two years eight months, that's outrageously cheap.

 

BTW, if you google his name (Kasama Apichaisompon) his portrait is all over the place.

Edited December 8, 20232 yr by Ben Zioner

9 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Was he actually a tour guide? or some random guy pretending to be a Guide. most tour guides have a company name, just thinking out loud.

Yes but this is Thailand.  You'd  also think someone wearing a police uniform was actually the police but .....................................

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

A lone female, on a solo tour with someone she doesn't know.... what could possibly go wrong? 

 

victim blaming. dumb comment.

It's a horrifying story indeed. Poor girl. She will be traumatised for a long time.

And cases like this happen here every day. Maybe less to foreigners but to young Thai girls who are not encouraged and brave enough to go to police.

(today's story in Thaiger about a multi raped 14 yo). I think schools, govt should play an important role in co-education to prevent those incidents.

While there are predatory elements everywhere in the world, I think an added degree of caution needs to be taken in a tourist island environment. Police presence does not always keep up with seasonal tourist population growth. The island's distance from the mainland (which contributes to a sense of criminal impunity), the availability of isolated areas, and the misperception that foreigners may be less likely to report crimes because of language barriers and their temporary vacation visit to the island may be factors emboldening some to commit crimes of this nature. Fearfulness of solo travel isn't necessarily called for, but a degree of caution is well-advised.

At least the former PM has kept quiet this time, after another tourist was raped during his tenure and he responded by saying only ugly women should wear a bikini. And when another young tourist was murdered he said her parents could just make another one (child). Great leadership, hmm?

Paddled in the sea? 

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

I think any country is dangerous, for lone female travelers when going to isolated places.  

It's not limited to females. It can happen to guys also.

Edited December 8, 20232 yr by JimTripper

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

A lone female, on a solo tour with someone she doesn't know.... what could possibly go wrong? 

Sad but true. When people put themselves in vulnerable positions and bad stuff happens......I hope they throw the guy away. 

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

A lone female, on a solo tour with someone she doesn't know.... what could possibly go wrong? 

 

How about a cruise ship worker that books a tour through an ' alleged ' legitimate tour guide to be taken to idyllic spots in broad daylight, only for the man in a position of trust, to attack and rape her?

 

1 hour ago, Ben Zioner said:

Two years eight months, that's outrageously cheap.

 

BTW, if you google his name (Kasama Apichaisompon) his portrait is all over the place.

 

Agreed, you would get a damn sight longer than that in the UK these days.

 

1 hour ago, jesimps said:

If one of my daughters had told me that whilst in a foreign country, she'd gone with just a male tour guide for company, to a a secluded beach, I'd have been very angry with her. Because he was a tour guide didn't make him any less likely to become a sex offender. The poor girl didn't expect or deserve to be sexually assaulted, but I would advise her to use more caution in future.  

 

I don't think she needs your advice, I think she will never trust a male again, unfortunately.

32 minutes ago, JimTripper said:

It's not limited to females. It can happen to guys also.

 

Agreed,

 

But solo males are more likely to suffer violent assaults and robberies as opposed to sexual violence and rapes.

Hello

Edited December 8, 20232 yr by JimTripper

2 hours ago, ThaiFelix said:

Yes but this is Thailand.  You'd  also think someone wearing a police uniform was actually the police but .....................................

Could be a Chinese Tourist ??  

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

A lone female, on a solo tour with someone she doesn't know.... what could possibly go wrong? 

 

From your comment I can only assume that is a picture of yourself in your profile

3 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

Two years eight months, that's outrageously cheap.

 

BTW, if you google his name (Kasama Apichaisompon) his portrait is all over the place.

I agree, used to be in the UK sentance for Rape was 25y before considered for parole! Not anymore, mores the pitty.

 

2y8m is a farce!

7 minutes ago, Ricardo99 said:

I agree, used to be in the UK sentance for Rape was 25y before considered for parole! Not anymore, mores the pitty.

 

2y8m is a farce!

He turned himself in the next day. That probably cut his sentence way down. Many other countries don't reduce the sentence for admitting guilt.