KOH SAMUI — Phuket police have apprehended a suspect in connection with the reported sexual assault of a Finnish female tourist on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province.
Ms. Sophai, 19, a Finnish national, filed a complaint at Bo Phut Police Station at 3:30 AM on March 30. She reported that around 11:30 PM on March 29, she had been drinking at a bar with two Danish male friends when two unfamiliar foreign men joined their table, which she did not object to.
According to Ms. Sophai, she later went to the restroom and encountered one of these unfamiliar men near the entrance. Due to alcohol intoxication, she cannot clearly recall all events. The group, including the suspect, subsequently went for a walk on the beach in front of the bar. After walking for a while, her friends returned to the bar, leaving her alone with the suspect.
While sitting on a beach chair, the suspect allegedly approached her, kissed and fondled her, and touched her private areas. She stated that she was shocked and told him to stop, but he continued the assault until he was satisfied and then returned to the bar. After gathering herself, she returned to find her two friends, told them what happened, and asked them to accompany her to file a report at Bo Phut Police Station.
Following the report, Bo Phut investigation officers reviewed CCTV footage from the location and identified the suspect. By comparing the images with the immigration police database, they identified him as Mr. David, a 36-year-old Israeli national. Ms. Sophai confirmed the identification, and police subsequently obtained a court-issued arrest warrant.
On March 31 at approximately 4:50 PM, officers from the Police Region 8 Investigation Unit and Immigration officials apprehended the Israeli suspect at Phuket Airport as he was apparently attempting to leave the country. The suspect was taken to Saku Police Station before arrangements were made to transfer him to Bo Phut Police Station for further investigation and legal proceedings.
This incident comes just weeks after a similar case in the early hours of March 14, when a 24-year-old German tourist from Munich was sexually assaulted by two Indian tourists on a beach on Koh Phangan island after a Full Moon Party. In that case, police arrested the suspects; one confessed to rape charges while the other claimed he only hugged and kissed the victim.
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