Accused child abuser, 93, caught fleeing into Burma

Am Sandford and Lindsay Murdoch

Brisbane Times

A 93-year-old Australian man attempted to escape charges that he raped four young Thai sisters by fleeing illegally into Burma, Thai police say.

But instead of being taken to Burma's largest city, Rangoon, and deported to Australia, Karl Joseph Kraus, a former railway worker, was escorted by Burmese police and officials back across the border into the hands of Thai police.

Looking frail and dishevelled, Mr Kraus pleaded to be returned to Burma where he had been staying illegally for about a month after skipping bail on Thai charges of rape and sexual abuse.

''Where am I? Take me back to Burma. I want to go. You are illegal. My embassy should be here,'' he pleaded with Thai officials late on Friday at the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge near the northern Thai city of Chiangmai.

When asked what he had been doing in Burma, Mr Kraus replied: ''Mostly in jail.''

Sitting in a border office surrounded by Thai and Burmese officials, Mr Kraus said: ''I am 93 years old and you treat me like this … it is so illegal.

''The embassy man should be here. Why do you like this?''

A Burmese official, who declined to give his name, said Mr Kraus entered Burma by illegally crossing a river and travelled to the Karen state capital of Pa-an where he rented a room for several weeks until his arrest on July 24.

Read more: http://www.brisbanet...l#ixzz22d1wJPhB

Brisbane Times-- 2012-08-05

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I am Australian yet I have ZERO sympathy for this man.

he says im 93 and shouldnt be treeted like this,

he should of thought of that before he did what he did, they didnt want to be treeted like that,

age is no defence, lock him up and throw away the key, in thailand not oz

Seems like I remember this story. Was there not some issue of frame up. I think pedophiles should burn and get castrated, but there was something peculiar about this case if who I think it is besides the fact he is 93, impotent, senile and had money.

This old guy is wishing that he had not lived so long right about now.

The 90's is a little old to start molesting children. Unless he has a history of child sexual abuse, he could have medical/psychological problems contributing to his current situation. He needs a thorough evaluation before the case is disposed of.

People suffering from dementia are known to undergo behavioral and psychological changes.

Not an excuse....just saying.

Seems like I remember this story.

Original topic here - Thailand Charges 90 Year-Old Australian ...

Follow up story here - 91 Year Old Australian

The 90's is a little old to start molesting children. Unless he has a history of child sexual abuse, he could have medical/psychological problems contributing to his current situation. He needs a thorough evaluation before the case is disposed of.

People suffering from dementia are known to undergo behavioral and psychological changes.

Not an excuse....just saying.

Not to mention that he hasn't been tried and convicted of anything.

I state again, this time without the invective, that the 'hang 'em high' brigade would seem to have major issues of their own...which I find disgusting.

Of course he's in the process of Thai Justice now, Im sure we will get all the facts and truth . NO

The 90's is a little old to start molesting children. Unless he has a history of child sexual abuse, he could have medical/psychological problems contributing to his current situation. He needs a thorough evaluation before the case is disposed of.

People suffering from dementia are known to undergo behavioral and psychological changes.

Not an excuse....just saying.

Surely ain't going to happen in Thailand. Mental health services here seem to be found only in hallucinations...

He said in the first article that the kids always came to his house accompanied by their parents and that the father tried to blackmail him..... Although personally I think that's a little bit too much of a serious claim to make falsely to the police

Hopefully he gets a fair trial, after which if he's guilty he can spend what remains of his life behind bars, or will be released if found innocent.

although at 93 he might not last long in remand (since he won't get bail again after attempting to flee), and so even if innocent he might spend the rest of his days behind bars

Hypersexuality in dementia patients is very well documented. If no prior history this would seem highly likely.

One would hope that the first thing they do is test the man for dementia (and if positive - which at his age is almost certain), then get him out of this horrific situation.

Born in Germany in 1920's, then fled to Australia after the war. I wonder if the Simon Wiesenthal centre are interested in speaking to him as well.

"He says im 93 and shouldnt be treated like this",

Didnt consider his age when he was raping those kids ! What a waist of oxigen for 93 years

This sort of crime falls into the "hang first, ask questions later" category, a mere accusation is the same as a guilty verdict. We on here shouldn't be so quick, it could happen to any of us, originating with someone who thinks there could be $$ in it for them.

If he really did do these things, well, that's another story.

I state again, this time without the invective, that the 'hang 'em high' brigade would seem to have major issues of their own...which I find disgusting.

If by that your mean the Thai Visa Peanut gallery searching for any reason to make this "Oz Good' "Thai Bad" even in this most vile case ... you have my full enthusiastic support. Really, crossed the river without going through immigration???? because he had nothing to hide. There is no limit to the Peanut Gallery's ability to suspend reason when the Pervert is .... White.

At 93 what comes to mind is trying to push a rope down the street. Very difficult to do.

This sort of crime falls into the "hang first, ask questions later" category, a mere accusation is the same as a guilty verdict. We on here shouldn't be so quick, it could happen to any of us, originating with someone who thinks there could be $$ in it for them.

If he really did do these things, well, that's another story.

Correct.

Hypersexuality in dementia patients is very well documented. If no prior history this would seem highly likely.

One would hope that the first thing they do is test the man for dementia (and if positive - which at his age is almost certain), then get him out of this horrific situation.

Does it also make you join pedo syndicates and email pictures to other nonces?? seems to be mentally capable of using modern technology and posing with kiddies in pictures........

Thanks for the links. Definitely more to this story than meets the eye. I usually feel most are guilty until proven innocent, especially when involving children. I, however, think this guy got swindled and what happen to his property, stuff and money since last report. Did the alleged victims get something, if dude was framed, I dint blame him for jetting. Sounds like alzheimers or dementia by what he was saying.

I just think the financial stuff along with the fact he couldn't molest a freshly fisted hooker makes me wonder about this guy.

Definitely have to read other post before jumping to judgment.

Is most deffo 1 of the "hang em high brigade", if a dog gets Rabies you put it down before it can bite anyone not sit there and try and figure out why its snarling. If I ever lose my mind to the point where i'm a danger to little kiddies I hope someone would do me a favour and put me out my misery.

Quite a few sick responses on this post against a 93 year old with possible mental problems due to age. Let the authorities and Embassy sort it out without all the TV psychologists and lynchmen adding their comments. Hard to do when you have nothing else to do with your lives, but trying to stay in Thailand.

"He says im 93 and shouldnt be treated like this",

Didnt consider his age when he was raping those kids ! What a waist of oxigen for 93 years

93 yrs old,prostate cancer,and he is rich.Alarm bells ringing.

Anyway if he was in Myanmar,and they put him in prison then they have to contact the Australian Embassy.If Thailand wants him back to Thailand,then they have to apply for extradition,that's how it should be.A lot of bad people here in Thailand,but I don't believe a 93 yr old guy with prostate cancer is able to rape anybody,I believe they wanted money and he did not pay

Hypersexuality in dementia patients is very well documented. If no prior history this would seem highly likely.

One would hope that the first thing they do is test the man for dementia (and if positive - which at his age is almost certain), then get him out of this horrific situation.

Does it also make you join pedo syndicates and email pictures to other nonces?? seems to be mentally capable of using modern technology and posing with kiddies in pictures........

Although I am totally as against paedophiles as everyone else, this has to be one very bizarre story. Everything in the article is clarified by "alleged". The fact is, nothing was proven. His relations are saying "x" amount the case would be dropped. Then the whole escapade of a 93 yr old man crossing the river and living in Burma for a period of time simply makes the mind boggle. Are we to presume he went alone!!

If Thailand wants him back to Thailand,then they have to apply for extradition,that's how it should be.

Not the case here. He entered Myanmar illegally and as such they have the authority to deport him as an illegal alien as any country can.

Of course they 'should' be sure you are an actual danger,

and not a target for the jealous, greedy and unscrupulous,

this story has stunk to high heaven since day one.

And it appears this old bloke hasn't gotten anything like

a proper medical / psychological work up, ever,

just 2+ years of fear under damocles sword.

Of course we all know that

the jealous, greedy and unscrupulous,

don't exist in Thailand....

If Thailand wants him back to Thailand,then they have to apply for extradition,that's how it should be.

Not the case here. He entered Myanmar illegally and as such they have the authority to deport him as an illegal alien as any country can.

Yes, but they have the discretion to decide where he is sent.

They are clearly doing a favor to Thailand by sending him there

and not back to the land of his passport. S.O.P. in most places.

well the police do say they have more than a 100 pictures seized from him with naked kiddies on them and him posing, and lets face it Thai police are not exactly famous for wanting to overwork so the ver fact they bothered to chase him at all indicates something I would guess..... but yes of course give him a fair trail before putting him out of his misery or not.

as for it being odd that the case will be dropped if money is paid well thats just par for the course in many cases in Thailand is it not?