Canadian Man Arrested Over Sexual Assault Claim in Chiang Mai
A 38-year-old Canadian man was arrested at a Chiang Mai hotel on charges of sexually assaulting a British woman at a party earlier this month, after police discovered he planned to flee Thailand.
Chiang Mai — A 38-year-old Canadian man has been arrested at a hotel in central Chiang Mai on a court warrant over an alleged sexual assault involving a British woman at a party.
Tourist police and officers from Mae Ping Police Station arrested the suspect, identified as Avdo Giovanni Ochoa Saenz, at a hotel room at around 23:00 on 22 September, according to police.
The arrest followed coordination between the Chiang Mai branch of the British Consulate and Thai authorities after a British tourist reported that she had been sexually assaulted.
According to information provided to police, the woman had travelled to Chiang Mai and met with a group of friends, including the suspect, on 13 September. The group drank alcohol together before the alleged sexual assault took place.
The woman later filed a complaint with investigators at Mae Ping Police Station. Police gathered evidence and arranged for her to undergo a medical examination before presenting the evidence to the Chiang Mai Provincial Court to seek an arrest warrant.
Police said they also examined information on the suspect's mobile phone and found travel details indicating that he was planning to leave Thailand on the morning of 23 September.
Officers therefore moved quickly to locate and arrest him at his hotel before he could leave the country.
The suspect was handed over to investigators at Mae Ping Police Station for legal proceedings.
Police said they would ensure fairness to both the complainant and the suspect as the case proceeds.
