Phuket Police Investigate Australian Tourist's Sexual Assault Claim

[webfact]

Phuket Police investigate Australian tourist's sexual assault claim

Phuket Gazette

Phuket Provincial Commander Maj Gen Chonasit Wattanavrangkul. Photo: Gazette file

PHUKET: -- Phuket Police are investigating reports that an Australian woman on holiday in Phuket was raped in an attack by three men in Patong early yesterday morning.

“We are now investigating the case to make sure exactly what happened,” Phuket Provincial Commander Maj Gen Chonasit Wattanavrangkul said today.

The woman, aged in her early 20s, showed no prominent signs of physical trauma, he said.

She was interviewed this afternoon by a female police officer with a female translator present in a private room. The woman will likely be asked to be interviewed again tomorrow.

The woman, accompanied by her partner, also aged in his early 20s, reported the incident at Patong Police Station at about 4am yesterday.

In the report, the woman said the attack occurred at about 2am while she was travelling back to her hotel in a tuk-tuk she hired on the beach road at the end of Soi Bangla.

A reliable source told the Phuket Gazette that after escorting the couple back to their hotel, officers saw their room in disarray, with broken items scattered around it.

The woman’s partner reportedly had been drinking alcohol that night.

“It’s not that we don’t believe her, but officers need to gather evidence before I can confirm any [more] details about the case,” Gen Chonasit said this afternoon.

The news today echoes a similar report in 2006 when a tuk-tuk driver was accused of raping an Australian woman at a secluded spot while driving her back to her hotel room in the early hours of the morning.

Australian Honorary Consul to Phuket Larry Cunningham two years ago led the drive for Phuket Police to introduce specialist case officers to handle sexual assault investigations.

Phuket Police responded by assigning a dedicated officer, Detective Nucharee Longkaew, to investigate sex-crime reports from women in Phuket.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle16169.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-06-12

[kurnell]

In my crystal ball I see a shoddy investigation until the international press get a hold of the story after which a Burmese constuction worker will be found guilty.

[asiawatcher]

In my crystal ball I see a shoddy investigation until the international press get a hold of the story after which a Burmese constuction worker will be found guilty.

Nothing surer.

[Moruya]

I haven't been to Phuket for years. It turned from a beautiful island into a nasty, horrible place.

Nowadays I prefer places like Langkawi or Tioman

[Kananga]

I go there as little as possible and encourage others to do the same.

[xthAi76s]

In my crystal ball I see a shoddy investigation until the international press get a hold of the story after which a Burmese constuction worker will be found guilty.

Absolutely.

[how241]

"showed no prominent signs of physical trauma" ....That's the part I find strange but I will wait for more info to draw any conclusions.

[sportsman69]

Not to to make a mockery of these purported crimes and the trauma of the follow up that it must have on the victims

A bit like another report from an unmentionable source about the rape of a German girl a week or so ago,

Prerp. ''It wasn't quite like full sex. It was only [in?] for five minutes.''

Judge: ''Did she agree with you to have sex?'' Accused: ''No.''

[ Assumed reasoning ] Oh well in that case if she wasn't here in Phuket it wouldn't have happened anyway so she must be half to blame. Bail granted. Don't forget to come back for the next hearing if you have time, if not don't worry there's still room under the rug but we must keep your 2,000 baht and the 'big house' is full anyway. NEXT.

Crime, investigation, court procedures and results here, are a world away from what is regarded as normal from where most of us come from. Freaky to say the least.

[KeyserSoze01]

What the hell does the condition of her hotel room have to do with whether or not she was sexually assaulted on the way to the room?

Seems the Aussie g'ment needs to be issuing travel advisories to their citizens that Phuket is not a safe place for a single female to be out at night.

[sportsman69]

What the hell does the condition of her hotel room have to do with whether or not she was sexually assaulted on the way to the room?

Seems the Aussie g'ment needs to be issuing travel advisories to their citizens that Phuket is not a safe place for a single female to be out at night.

Yeah. Almost as bad as being at home.

[captspectre]

In my crystal ball I see a shoddy investigation until the international press get a hold of the story after which a Burmese constuction worker will be found guilty.

where was the "boy" friend? and why did he let her run around at early dark thirty alone? reminds me of "charlie Tuna"!

[sunshine51]

Seems to me there'sno need to investigate anything. It appears to be a simple matter of some drunk lad trying to get some nookie from his lady and she didn't want to "do it" since he was drunk and then he trashed the room. Drunk young Aussies ...Case adjourned!....Next....

[stevenl]

In my crystal ball I see a shoddy investigation until the international press get a hold of the story after which a Burmese constuction worker will be found guilty.

According to the site that can not be mentioned she confessed this never happened, and SHE will be in court today to face a charge.

[stevenl]

What the hell does the condition of her hotel room have to do with whether or not she was sexually assaulted on the way to the room?

Seems the Aussie g'ment needs to be issuing travel advisories to their citizens that Phuket is not a safe place for a single female to be out at night.

Apparently Phuket citizens have to be warned against Aussie tourists

[sportsman69]

Apparently Phuket citizens have to be warned against Aussie tourists

I read it as a Brit on an Aussie passport. Much the same behaviour from both lower levels of either country. Hooligans from one Bogans the other.

Edited June 15, 2012 by sportsman69

[sportsman69]

What the hell does the condition of her hotel room have to do with whether or not she was sexually assaulted on the way to the room?

Seems the Aussie g'ment needs to be issuing travel advisories to their citizens that Phuket is not a safe place for a single female to be out at night.

Apparently Phuket citizens have to be warned against Aussie tourists

Seems to me there'sno need to investigate anything. It appears to be a simple matter of some drunk lad trying to get some nookie from his lady and she didn't want to "do it" since he was drunk and then he trashed the room. Drunk young Aussies ...Case adjourned!....Next....

Seems you got it right the first time Sunshine except for a few minor points. I was only commenting on what we were told before.

Incomplete reporting and jumping the gun before the truth from Phuket Gazette as usual.

No.1 rule of tabloid journalism. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Seems though she was a Brit using an OZ passport and behaving like a true Bogan anyway. A true Aussie would never get a Brit passport.

[stevenl]

She has been sentences to 15 days jail. I will presume she will be deported straight away and not go to jail here.

[edwinclapham]

What the hell does the condition of her hotel room have to do with whether or not she was sexually assaulted on the way to the room?

Seems the Aussie g'ment needs to be issuing travel advisories to their citizens that Phuket is not a safe place for a single female to be out at night.

Apparently Phuket citizens have to be warned against Aussie tourists

Seems to me there'sno need to investigate anything. It appears to be a simple matter of some drunk lad trying to get some nookie from his lady and she didn't want to "do it" since he was drunk and then he trashed the room. Drunk young Aussies ...Case adjourned!....Next....

Seems you got it right the first time Sunshine except for a few minor points. I was only commenting on what we were told before.

Incomplete reporting and jumping the gun before the truth from Phuket Gazette as usual.

No.1 rule of tabloid journalism. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story. Seems though she was a Brit using an OZ passport and behaving like a true Bogan anyway. A true Aussie would never get a Brit passport.

"

A true Aussie would never get a Brit passport."

what it would be beneath them or what? lol

[sportsman69]

[........] what it would be beneath them or what? lol

Quite the contrary that's why I said true Aussie. Not talking about who or what's being bred or admitted down there lately. It's about no need of people who are straight, honest and don't intend to do wrong. In this case it could possibly be because it's a known fact that the the Brit embassy give zero help to their passport holders / citizens abroad, so better to travel as an imitation Aussie. Do you remember the case of the poor Brit incarcerated in Bangkok a while back until uncovered by an independent reporter. The only time they look after their own kind is when the likes of Aldhouse finally escape back home to free legals, good food and lodgings. All seemingly without any help from his embassy. He was probably smart enough not to ask !

Edited June 15, 2012 by sportsman69

[edwinclapham]

[........] what it would be beneath them or what? lol

Quite the contrary that's why I said true Aussie. Not talking about who or what's being bred or admitted down there lately. It's about no need of people who are straight, honest and don't intend to do wrong. In this case it could possibly be because it's a known fact that the the Brit embassy give zero help to their passport holders / citizens abroad, so better to travel as an imitation Aussie. Do you remember the case of the poor Brit incarcerated in Bangkok a while back until uncovered by an independent reporter. The only time they look after their own kind is when the likes of Aldhouse finally escape back home to free legals, good food and lodgings. All seemingly without any help from his embassy. He was probably smart enough not to ask !

I must admit I do remember the case, and pitiful it was indeed.

I realise the Embassy are not there to babysit their ex pats or tourists per se, but in that case much more could have been done.

I did happen to notice a charity box at the BE for "impoverished sailors" I think it was, and a wry smile came to my face.

[webfact]

please continue:

Aussie woman jailed for false sexual assault report in Phuket

Phuket Gazette

Police are charging an Australian woman for filing a false report of being raped. Photo: Golf Thairath

Full story:

//CLOSED//