BANGKOK — A video of a police officer smacking a rape and murder suspect during his interrogation has highlighted divisions in Thai society over how rape crimes should be punished.

In the four-second video, which first surfaced on social media on 9 July, a police officer can be seen assaulting Wanchai Saengkhao, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) employee who police say confessed to raping and murdering a 13-year-old girl on a night train on 6 July.

Many commentators on social media have applauded the action depicted in the video, arguing that Mr. Wanchai deserves much more than a smack or two for his alleged crime. 

"I am so tired of these beautiful-world and human rights people who defend this animal from hell," one commentator wrote. "If the person who was raped were your relative, will you really do nothing? Even though I am not her relative, I want to stamp this fucking monster to death under my feet."

Outrage over the rape and death of the 13-year-old girl has recently ignited an online campaign for punishing convicted rapists with the death penalty. Under current Thai laws, those convicted of rape can face 5-20 years in prison. 

However, the video has also raised concerns among some that Mr. Wanchai’s confession may have obtained under duress; Thai police have a history of coercing suspects to confess during interrogation.

"We have to respect laws," wrote another commentator. "Don't use our affection or disaffection to judge. A police officer hurting a suspect [like this] could be considered a criminal case as well." 

Mr. Wanchai is currently being detained at Prachuap Kiri Khan Provincial Prison. Prison officials said Mr. Wanchai will be under special watch to prevent him from committing suicide or being assaulted by other inmates after a rape suspect was beaten to death in prison yesterday.

Police have charged Mr. Wanchai with murder, sexual assault, theft, and drug abuse. 

Meanwhile, the case also took a supernatural turn, with mother of the victim reportedly claiming that she was visited in her dreams by her dead daughter.

According to a report on Matichon, the victim's mother said her daughter has informed her that Mr. Wanchai wasn't the only suspect, and that "there were many people" who killed her. 

The victim also claimed to continue to haunt the train where she was murdered, her mother said.

Read more:
Rape-Murder Suspect Exposes State Railway's Shortcomings 
Editorial: Death Penalty Is Not The Solution To Rape

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TRANG — A man accused of sexually assaulting his seven-year-old stepdaughter has been beaten to death in prison, police say, a day after he insisted he was innocent.

Prasin Nunkaew, 41, was arrested yesterday and charged with raping his stepdaughter on 6 July at a rubber farm in Trang district. Mr. Prasin's wife filed the complaint with police.

In a press conference held yesterday, police said Mr. Prasin disputed the charge and insisted on his innocence. He was later transferred to Trang Remand Prison to await trial.

However, this morning the prison officials discovered that Mr. Prasin had been beaten to death by fellow inmates in his holding cell after a fight broke out, said Pol.Cpt. Methee Pinyoprakarn, an officer at Trang Police Station.

Pol.Cpt. Methee claimed that the fight was not related to Mr. Prasin's rape charge, but failed to provide an explanation for the beating. He said the police are investigating the incident. 

The incident came at a time when Thai society and media are gripped by the story of 13-year-old girl who was raped and murdered on a night train. An employee of the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has been arrested and police say he has confessed to raping the girl in a sleeping car before throwing her body overboard. 

The case has ignited a online campaign for punishing convicted rapists with the death penalty. Under current Thai laws, those convicted of rape can face 5-20 years in prison. 

Today, Thai actress Panadda Wongpoodee and a dozen of students staged a demonstration at a train station in Nakhon Si Thammarat advocating for the execution of rape convicts. Contestants of the 2014 Miss Grand Thailand beauty pageant also submitted a proposal to Thailand's military government requesting the same measure. 

Read more:
_{Rape-Murder Suspect Exposes State Railway's Shortcomings 
Editorial: Death Penalty Is Not The Solution To Rape
Junta Reminds Pro-Death Penalty Demonstrators of Ban On Public Gatherings}

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BANGKOK — Thailand's military junta has warned those advocating for the execution of rapists not to violate the ban on public gatherings.

The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued the warning after famous Thai actress Panadda Wongpoodee and a dozen of students staged a small demonstration at a train station in Nakhon Si Thammarat province to voice their support for punishing convicted rapists with the death penalty. 

Plans for another rally at Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok this Saturday have also been circulated on social media. Convicted rapists currently face 5-20 years in prison. 

The outrage follows the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl on a night train over the weekend. Police say a state railway employee confessed to sexually assaulting the victim in a sleeping car and throwing her out of the window afterwards. The suspect, Wanchai Saengkhao, is facing charges of premeditated murder, sexual assault, and drug abuse.

"These demonstrations are held under martial law," Col. Winthai Suwaree, a spokesperson of the NCPO, said today. "All types of demonstrations, whether about political or other issues, violate martial law."

The NCPO has harshly enforced its ban on public gatherings against protesters who participate in any kind of anti-coup demonstrations, including flashing the three-finger salute or eating sandwiches. However, the NCPO has not made a single arrest of anyone participating in a pro-coup or pro-army rally. Those who violate the NCPO's ban on protests may face a trial in military court and up to two years in prison.

Col. Winthai suggested that instead of demonstrating or organising rallies, those who would like to change the punishment for rape crimes should submit proposals to NCPO chairman Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha. 

"[The NCPO] is a functioning agency. That is the most appropriate channel at this moment," Col. Winthai added, though he refused to comment on whether the NCPO agrees with the pro-death penalty campaign. 

Today, contestants of the 2014 Miss Grand Thailand beauty pageant did in fact submit a proposal to the NCPO in favor of revising the criminal code to include execution as a punishment for rape. 

The proposal also requested increased security across the country with at least two security personnel guarding “risk” areas, an information campaign teaching women about self-defense methods, and new NCPO policies to deter criminals.

“Miss Grand Thailand 2014 greatly hopes to see a revision in the law for the increased safety of women so that offenders will not get off scot-free in our society or receive too light a sentence,” said Miss Grand Thailand Director Nawat Isarnkraisiln, who accompanied the pageant contestants today.

Read more:
Rape-Murder Suspect Exposes State Railway's Shortcomings 
Editorial: Death Penalty Is Not The Solution To Rape

SAMUT PRAKARN — Police are investigating the case of a 14-year-old student who was electrocuted and killed by an electricity leakage underneath a bleacher at a temple in Samut Prakarn province.

Another student was also seriously injured by the leaked electricity, which police say was caused by a cable that passed through the bleacher and was illegally tapping electricity from a state utility pole. 

Witnesses say the two students were taking shelter under sports stand inside Eiam Prachamit Temple during the heavy downpour yesterday afternoon. A school teacher said he noticed that something was amiss when he walked past the temple and saw the two students' hands gripping a pole of the sports stand in strange manner.

When he touched one of the students, the teacher said, he felt a sudden shock of electricity. The teacher then reportedly used a wooden stick to free the two boys, after which he sent them to hospital. One of the boys died at hospital, while the other remains in critical condition.

Police say an initial investigation reveals that the temple illegally tapped electricity from a nearby utility pole and that the power may have leaked out from the cable as it passed through the sports stand.

The police added that they are working to identify whoever is responsible for the illegal power tapping. 

Narong Singsiri, director of Wat Laem Fa Pha School, where the victims were enrolled, said the school and temple were not aware of the tapping and would fully cooperate with the police to locate those responsible. 

Mr. Narong also said that electricians are scouring the area to look for other possible electricity leakages to prevent further tragedies.

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PRACHINBURI — An 18-year-old man reportedly drowned last night while trying to swim across Prachinburi River over a lost World Cup bet he has made with friends.

According to his friends, the victim, whose name has been withheld by police, vowed to swim across the river if Brazil lost in the semi-final round of the FIFA World Cup.

After Germany beat Brazil 7-1, the victim reportedly kept his word and arrived at the pier of Goddess Tub Tim Shrine at 7 pm last night.

He then jumped into the river and proceeded to swim to the other side, but disappeared somewhere in mid-river, his friends say.

Rescue workers later found his body at around midnight.