Australian Pedophile Arrested In Thailand

Australian pedophile arrested in Thailand

BANGKOK: -- An Australian man not allowed to leave his country because he is on a list of child-sex offenders has been caught in Thailand and will be deported, Thai police said on Tuesday.

Paul Thompson, 57, who "has committed dozens of sexual offenses" on Australian children over "several decades", was arrested on Friday while leaving for Cambodia to renew his Thai visa, immigration police said in a statement.

Thompson, who told reporters he was sentenced to two years' jail in 1990 in Perth for "tickling and stroking children in a swimming pool", was put on the Australian National Child Offender Register and required to make regular reports the police.

But Thai police quoted their Australian counterparts as saying Thompson fled to Southeast Asia using various aliases. He came to Thailand in June after being denied entry to Indonesia and Malaysia, Thai police said.

"He is a threat to society," Thai immigration police chief Suwat Tumrongsiskul told reporters.

Australian diplomats in Bangkok were not available for immediate comment.

--China News, Agencies 2006-08-17

Alleged paedophile fled to Thailand: police

Police say a Perth man arrested in Thailand and wanted on paedophile charges is on the Australian National Child Offender Register.

Teacher Paul Thompson, 57, was arrested at a checkpoint along the border between Thailand and Cambodia on Friday.

The Australian Federal Police have had his passport and visa cancelled.

Thompson was facing prison in Australia on child sex offences but fled to south-east Asia, where authorities are working to have him deported.

Acting Detective Superintendent Kellie Properjohn says Western Australian police have been liaising with federal authorities to locate Thompson.

She says it is up to the person on the register to notify authorities when they are planning to travel.

"Anyone is obliged to report their movements to police - that, is both internationally and nationally," she said.

"In this instance, it will be alleged that Mr Thompson failed to notify police of his intention to travel overseas within the required time frame."

--abc.net.au 2006-08-17