Phuket Man Arrested for Alleged Rape and Secret Filming

Photo courtesy of Wichit Police Facebook

In a shocking turn of events, a 40-year-old man was arrested in Phuket after allegedly raping his girlfriend’s unconscious best friend and covertly recording the assault.

The suspect, Yotsaphan Wichetwarinwet from Hat Yai, was detained by Wichit Police while applying for a job at a restaurant in Phuket Town. Superintendent Somsak Thongkliang explained that investigators had been pursuing Yotsaphan since the Phuket Provincial Court issued a warrant on 29th July for the rape of a foreign woman.

Police action centred around the Old Bus Terminal on Phang Nga Road, Mueang district, following intelligence about the suspect’s location. The arrest, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Wittaya Kunnoi, brings an unsettling case to the forefront.

The troubling incident dates back to May. Yotsaphan and his Myanmar girlfriend had invited a close friend—the victim—to a birthday celebration at a Phuket restaurant. After consuming just two drinks, the victim mysteriously lost consciousness, waking up in the suspect’s room with her friend present but unaware of any wrongdoing.

It was only last week that the victim learned the horrifying truth. A friend sent her a video showing Yotsaphan assaulting her while she was unconscious. The footage, filmed without her consent, captured her in a defenceless state.

The victim quickly reported the incident to Wichit Police, prompting a thorough manhunt. Yotsaphan initially fled to a northern province but eventually returned to Phuket, where he was apprehended. Details of the case surfaced via the โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต Facebook page.

Police have laid serious charges against Yotsaphan, including raping a person unable to resist, recording the act for personal or third-party gain, and distributing the material. Despite these severe allegations and the damning video evidence, Yotsaphan continues to deny any wrongdoing.

The legal process is ongoing, with Yotsaphan now undergoing formal questioning at Wichit Police Station.

As the investigation unfolds, this distressing case highlights urgent issues surrounding consent and privacy—central topics that continue to resonate strongly across the region and beyond.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-05