72-Year-Old Man Arrested for Alleged Abuse of 3-Year-Old Neighbor
A 72-year-old man was arrested in Saraburi after his 3-year-old neighbor reported he sexually abused her; a doctor found genital inflammation consistent with the child's account, though the suspect denies all charges.
On September 11, Lieutenant Doen Sribanthao of Saraburi City Police received a report from a 22-year-old mother suspecting her 3-year-old daughter had been sexually abused by 72-year-old neighbor Samran, known as Daeng. The girl's grandmother said she discovered the child in pain while bathing her before bed. When questioned, the child said "Grandpa Daeng" caused it. The grandmother noticed significant redness on the child's genitals. Rather than inform her husband, fearing he might harm the suspect, she waited for the child's mother to return from work and took the girl for medical examination. Doctors found no semen but detected genital inflammation; the child also reported the man bit and licked her.
Police obtained a court warrant and arrested Samran at his residence. He was found to walk with a cane due to poor legs. The suspect was charged with child sexual abuse and child endangerment. Samran denied all allegations, claiming he never touched the child and knew nothing of how she was injured. He described an incident where the child asked to be held at a window and his feet kicked him in the chest, causing him to fall backward while still holding her. His daughter helped him up. He insisted he never grabbed, handled, or touched the child in any inappropriate way, and denied ever knowing what happened to her.
