Thai police on Wednesday freed a Cambodian meatball seller who was abducted from a market in Thailand’s Sa Kaeo province, detained at a nearby resort and raped, according to a government official and a rights worker.
The 27-year-old woman was bundled into a car by three men while selling meatballs on Tuesday afternoon at the Rong Kluea market, where she travels for work from her home across the border in Banteay Meanchey province, according to Soum Chankea, provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc.
The woman was then driven to a nearby resort, locked in a room and raped by one of the men while the other two stood guard outside, Mr. Chankea said, citing interviews with Thai police and the victim.
“She said that she didn’t resist at all as she was afraid that she might have been killed,” he said.
Mr. Chankea said all three men were arrested on Wednesday afternoon after Thai police tracked them down with the help of locals.
“According to my source in Thailand, the three Thai men were arrested by Thai police yesterday at about 3 p.m.,” he said.
“The victim claimed that she did not know the Thai man [who allegedly raped her], while the Thai man told police that he knew the victim and fell in love with her,” he added.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Chum Sounry said he had been informed about the case—and confirmed the basic details—but said that just one man was arrested.
“The Cambodian consulate in Sa Kaeo province told me…the victim’s family and the suspect were trying to settle the case in the police station,” Mr. Sounry said.
“The victim’s family asked the Thai man to pay them 500,000 Baht [about $14,000] in compensation,” he said, explaining that the man had been unable to pay the sum.
“Police decided to file the case and bring it to court. Currently, the Cambodian consulate in Sa Kaeo province is finding a lawyer to help the victim’s family in court.”
The Thai Rath newspaper on Thursday identified the main suspect as Wayu Aksorn, 40, and said that he had been charged with abduction—but not rape—at the victim’s request.
