BANGKOK – On May 7, 2024, officials from the Central Investigation Bureau’s (CIB) Combating Trafficking in Persons Division and Michel Chai, a representative of the FBI, held a joint press conference to announce the arrest of Mr. Selva, a 37-year-old American citizen of Asian descent.
Mr. Selva was wanted for multiple counts of kidnapping, fraud and forced sexual assault, and trafficking for sexual exploitation. He was arrested at a condominium in Soi Chuen Charoen Phanit in Bang Yi Khan sub-district, Bang Phlat district, Bangkok.
He is charged with intentional assault, kidnapping with intent, coercion, strangulation, assault with a weapon causing bodily injury, and human trafficking.
According to Pol. Col. Korkiet Wuthichumnong, Superintendent of Division 1, CIB, the arrest was initiated by representatives of the US Embassy in Thailand and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), who contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General.
They then sought assistance from Pol. Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuride, Commissioner of the CIB, to track down and apprehend Mr. Selva, who was wanted on a warrant issued by the District Court of the United States for the District of Oregon. The request was made under the Extradition Treaty between the United States and Thailand.
Mr. Selva had multiple prior criminal convictions in the United States, primarily related to sexual assault and battery. The Oregon District Court had convicted him of “sex trafficking by force, fraud and/or coercion” with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a minimum sentence of 15 years, and “transportation for unlawful sexual activity” with a maximum sentence of 10 years. These charges were divided into 11 separate counts:
- Assault in the second degree
- Strangulation
- Intentional bodily harm
- Kidnapping in the first degree (4 counts)
- Coercion
- Unlawful use of a weapon
- Assault causing bodily harm
After being released on bail, he failed to appear for his sentencing and fled to Thailand, where he had been in hiding for more than three months since February. The authorities were then contacted to track him down and arrest him.
According to the information available, Mr. Selva had entered Thailand on a tourist visa. He was described as 180 centimeters tall, weighing 90 kilograms and muscular. He was violent and often used weapons to commit his crimes.
In analyzing his behavior, the police assumed that Mr. Selva was aware that he was being followed and that he frequently changed his residence to hotels or apartments, staying there for only 1-4 days at a time. He frequently visited entertainment venues in Bangkok and approached both Thai and foreign women, sometimes taking them to his temporary residence. This raised fears that he might repeat his violent sexual offenses in Thailand.
When the authorities found out that he lived in a condominium in the Bang Phlat area, they planned his arrest and carried it out on 6 May 2024. The entire operation took only 10 days. Mr. Selva will now go through the extradition process to be brought back to the United States for further legal action.
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