Ex-Boyfriend Arrested For Abducting Woman Across Provinces
A 40-year-old man was arrested in Phuket after abducting and assaulting his ex-girlfriend during a car journey from Kanchanaburi to Ranong; the woman escaped by signaling a gas station attendant for help.
A 34-year-old woman from Thamakha district in Kanchanaburi was forcibly taken in a car heading south and assaulted throughout the journey before finding an opportunity to escape and seek help from a gas station attendant to call police in Ranong. The suspect initially fled but was arrested on July 7, 2569 by Phuket police investigators after he boarded a tour bus. He was handed over to Ranong Municipal Police for prosecution.
At 11:00 AM, Pol. Lt. Col. Thanawat Wattanakul, commander of Ranong Provincial Police, along with Pol. Maj. Thawatchai Suncharoen, superintendent of Ranong Municipal Police, and Pol. Capt. Chakraphan Kaewkhao, deputy superintendent, interrogated suspect Nattapong, 40, who was arrested under court warrant from Ranong Provincial Court.
The charges include robbery with threats to kill or cause bodily harm, coercion, unlawful confinement, indecent assault with threats or force, assault, and damage to property. Investigators reported that upon arrest, the suspect showed signs of drug intoxication. A urine test confirmed methamphetamine in his system. During interrogation, he gave contradictory statements, claiming to have Chinese and Korean nationality and alleging he received money transfers from Korea that were misappropriated by others. He claimed he acted out of accumulated frustration, admitted to slapping the victim, and blamed police for not also arresting the woman.
The Ranong Provincial Police Commander noted the suspect displayed signs of mental disturbance consistent with drug abuse, likely leading to paranoid and violent thoughts. The suspect confessed to hitting the woman, but the victim's quick thinking enabled her escape. The case is notable for the victim's resourcefulness in flagging down a gas station attendant to call her mother and alert police. The four-finger salute gesture she used to signal for help while making the call has been recognized as an important symbol requesting assistance.
