Girl, 14, Reports Father's Three-Year Sexual Abuse to Mother; Man Arrested

A woman from Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province came to lodge a complaint with Peenina Hongsukul, chairwoman of the Peenina Hongsukul Foundation for Children and Women, regarding her 14-year-old daughter living with the girl's 48-year-old father in Ubon Ratchathani province. The daughter called her mother in tears, saying her father had sexually assaulted her. The father, a heavy drug user, began molesting the girl when she was 11 years old in fifth grade and raped her repeatedly starting at age 12 for approximately two years, often after she returned from school and at night. Most recently on September 19, 2569, the girl endured the abuse because her father threatened to withhold her school fees if she told anyone. Fearing she would not be able to attend school, she stayed silent until she could no longer bear it.

The mother explained that she and the girl's father separated when their daughter was young. The father refused to let the girl stay with her mother and took the child to live with his own mother in Ubon Ratchathani, while the mother remained in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The father has a long history of drug involvement and served eight years in prison. Relatives cared for the girl during his incarceration. When he was released in 2565, he took the girl from them and prevented her mother from seeing her—until the daughter secretly called her mother, leading to the discovery of the abuse. The girl remained in Ubon Ratchathani while her mother was too afraid to retrieve her, fearing the father would harm her. The mother sought the foundation's help to pursue the case fully.

At 12:00 on September 23, 2569, Peenina Hongsukul announced that she had coordinated with Superintendent Rakkpong Buathian of Kud Khao Pun Police Station in Ubon Ratchathani and officers to assist the 14-year-old girl and arrest the 48-year-old father at his residence. The foundation transported the mother to Ubon Ratchathani to file a report, coordinating with Nusart Sasen, head of the Ubon Ratchathani Child and Family Care Home.

Police detained the father at his home and conducted a urine test that revealed drug metabolites in his system. Foundation staff and the child care home later picked up the girl from school, and she is now safe. Police will refer her for medical examination at a hospital and conduct a multidisciplinary investigation. Charges have been filed against the father for drug use and sexual assault of a child under 13 who is his biological daughter. He is to be remanded in custody and transferred to Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Court on September 24.

Peenina Hongsukul thanked Superintendent Rakkpong Buathian and Nusart Sasen for their swift action. The foundation will coordinate with the Department of Rights Protection under the Ministry of Justice to secure compensation for the victim. A multidisciplinary assessment will be conducted at the child care home before the girl is returned to her mother. The foundation will coordinate with the Ministry of Education to help transfer the girl to a school near her mother in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and will continue to monitor her case.