Police in Thailand have apprehended a 41-year-old local man for attempting to assault and rob a Chinese female tourist in a secluded forest near Pattaya city. The suspect confessed to authorities that he initially intended to sexually assault the tourist, but when that plan failed, he resorted to stealing her belongings, as reported by ThaiPBS World.
In an attempt to evade capture, he tried to fatally injure her by setting her on fire, but fortunately, the tourist managed to escape the ordeal.
Tourists at a bar on the Soi Cowboy touristic street in Bangkok. Photo by AFP
The incident has garnered significant attention on Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website, with thousands of comments expressing concern. Many users on Weibo still perceive Thailand as a perilous destination for Chinese tourists, expressing hesitancy about traveling there.
One commentator expressed, "Thailand is no longer as safe as it used to be, particularly for female tourists."
According to Khaosod English newspaper, the 29-year-old Chinese woman and her younger brother were hitchhiking along Highway 331 in Chonburi Province when they planned to return to Pattaya. Two Thai men on motorcycles offered them a ride, and they accepted, with each sibling riding on a separate motorcycle.
However, the man transporting the female tourist diverted into the wilderness and forcibly made her disembark from the bike before restraining her hands with a rope, as per Thailand News.
He then attempted to assault her but was unsuccessful.
The female tourist recounted that she thwarted the attacker's rape attempt by fighting back.
The individual who had given the woman's brother a ride presented himself to the authorities on Monday, refuting any involvement in the crime.
Under Thai law, if found guilty, the perpetrator driving the woman could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine ranging from 80,000 to 400,000 baht (US$2,200-11,000) for "committing rape with violence."
Robbery carries a penalty of imprisonment ranging from 5 to 10 years and a fine between 10,000 and 20,000 ba
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