The victim (right) and her mother (left) visited a police station with Ton Or (middle). | Photo via Facebook/ ต้นอ้อ เป็นหนึ่ง

 

In a deeply concerning case, a retired police officer in Nakhon Pathom has been accused of raping a 13-year-old Cambodian girl who worked at his grocery store. The disturbing incident has surfaced after the girl's parents, accompanied by Chalida “Ton Or” Palamart, founder of the non-profit Be One, lodged a complaint with the Mueang Nakhon Pathom Police Station on May 27.

 

The victim, hired to work in the couple's grocery store for a daily wage of 150 baht, lived nearby with her family. Her parents were employed at a local fresh market. The alleged assault occurred on May 10, shortly after she had begun working at the store.

 

According to reports, the officer's wife was complicit and reportedly facilitated the assault by luring the girl back to the store under the pretext of work. Upon her return, the victim was coerced into giving the officer a massage, leading to a sequence of events where she was forced to witness the couple engaging in sexual activities.

 

When the girl resisted the officer's subsequent assault, the wife allegedly restrained her, allowing the man to commit rape. Both suspects attempted to intimidate the girl into silence by threatening her family's deportation if she spoke out.

 

The traumatized young victim secluded herself for a week, remaining silent until prodded by the female suspect about her work absence. It was then that she courageously disclosed the ordeal to her parents, who attempted to pursue justice despite attempts by the accused to have the case dismissed with a 50,000 baht bribe.

 

Frustrated and fearing the lack of legal recourse, the family sought assistance from Be One, leading to the public exposure of this horrific incident. The family, acknowledging their undocumented status, agreed to return to Cambodia on the condition that their daughter’s case sees justice.

 

Following reports in DailyNews, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has launched an investigation. However, the local police overseeing the investigation have yet to provide an update on the case's progress.

 

This case highlights significant issues surrounding vulnerable populations and the challenges they face in seeking justice. Advocacy groups and authorities are urging a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and justice for the victim, underscoring the need for protective measures for migrant workers and their families in Thailand.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-28

 

 

Police officers, retired or not are just always thinking they can do as they want. Justice is not for them and their friends will help them....It is all about ranking in the whole Thai society. A situation that should change and everybody should be getting the same sentence for the same offence... This is another example of what a incompetent institution it is

13 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

everybody should be getting the same sentence for the same offence... This is another example of what a incompetent institution it is

Why?  In which other jurisdictions outside Thailand does that happen?