Crime Fugitive Arrested After 15-Year Hunt for Assaulting 13-Year-Old in Bangkok

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After avoiding capture for over 15 years, a former ferry conductor from Khlong Saen Saep has been arrested for the 2010 assault and abduction of a 13-year-old girl. The arrest was made today, April 28, under the directive of Police Major General Songklot Krikkritaya, commander of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division.

 

The suspect, 52-year-old Apichat, had been wanted since an arrest warrant was issued by the Criminal Court on August 20, 2010. The charges include the rape of a minor under 15 years old and the abduction of a minor from parental custody.

 

The troubling events commenced in 2010 when Apichat, then serving as a ferry conductor, befriended a 13-year-old passenger known only as B. Over time, he gained her trust through regular interactions. He eventually used this trust to lure B to his hotel room in the Ramkhamhaeng area under the pretext of a harmless outing. Once there, he forcibly assaulted her and threatened her into silence.

 

 

 

Changes in B’s behaviour, such as frequent late returns and a decline in her usual cheerfulness, alerted her parents that something was amiss. Upon questioning, B revealed the traumatic incident, leading her parents to report the crime to Hua Mak Police Station. Apichat fled shortly after this revelation.

 

Recent intelligence led investigators to Kap Choeng district in Surin province, where Apichat had been hiding. His capture marks the end of a more than 15-year manhunt.

 

Upon his arrest, Apichat admitted to the crimes and was transferred to Hua Mak Police Station to face the legal consequences of his actions. This apprehension not only serves as a measure of justice for the victim and her family but also underscores the commitment of law enforcement agencies to bringing fugitives to account, no matter how long it takes.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-04-28