PATHUM THANI — 31 August 2026, Police detained a 40-year-old man in Pathum Thani on Monday after his stepdaughter accused him of drugging members of their household and raping her several years ago, before allegedly subjecting her and her mother to prolonged threats, violence and harassment.
The woman, now 19, and her 41-year-old mother visited Khu Khot Police Station with social activist Tono Pen Nueng, representatives of the Pen Nueng Foundation and officials from the Pathum Thani Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office to follow up on the case and seek protection.
According to Tono Pen Nueng, the alleged sexual assaults occurred in December 2023. The stepdaughter was described in the complaint as being 15 at the time.
She alleged that her stepfather sexually assaulted her inside the family home over two consecutive days. He was also accused of secretly giving sleeping medication to her mother and younger sibling before the assaults.
About two months later, the mother noticed changes in her daughter’s behaviour and asked what was wrong. Her daughter subsequently told her about the alleged assaults.
The mother took her daughter out of the home and filed a police complaint.
The stepfather allegedly continued contacting and harassing them afterwards, asking them to withdraw the complaint and appealing for another chance while citing the couple’s younger child.
The family later resumed living together, but the mother and daughter said his threatening and controlling behaviour continued.
He allegedly monitored the young woman’s movements, demanded to know where she was and what she was doing, attempted to inspect her phone and private communications, and displayed intense jealousy.
He was also accused of physically assaulting her and repeatedly threatening both her and her mother, including with a knife and threats involving a firearm.
The mother told authorities she had retained messages she said showed harassment of her daughter, as well as audio recordings containing alleged death threats.
The situation reportedly escalated again in 2026 after the man accused the young woman of meeting a male student at university and again attempted to inspect her phone.
He allegedly assaulted the mother when she intervened. The mother and daughter subsequently left the home and had been living elsewhere for around 10 days by Monday.
The mother said the alleged harassment continued after another police complaint was filed, including a threat against her daughter’s male friend at a shopping centre.
Police later accompanied the mother and Tono Pen Nueng to the family home in the Khlong Si area of Lam Luk Ka district, where the stepfather was staying.
The mother, who is registered as the owner of the property, gave police permission to enter.
When the man refused to open the door, officers climbed over the fence and entered the property. Police searched the home for a firearm but did not find one.
The 40-year-old suspect, a former construction foreman, was then taken to Khu Khot Police Station for questioning over the 2023 case.
Police said he admitted wrongdoing in relation to the earlier case.
Regarding the firearm mentioned in the allegations, he reportedly told investigators that it had belonged to his late father, had not been formally transferred to him and was currently pawned with a relative.
Police said investigators would seek court approval to detain him while proceedings continue.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic or sexual violence in Thailand, assistance is available through the Social Assistance Centre hotline at 1300.
English speakers who need police assistance can also contact the Tourist Police on 1155, which offers 24-hour multilingual support.
