Australian man arrested in Thailand after 17-year-old’s body found in suitcase
✓An Australian man has been arrested at a Thai airport in connection with the alleged murder of a 17-year-old girl whose naked body was found in a suitcase, according to local police.
The man, 46, was stopped at about 9.30pm on Friday while preparing to travel on a Jetstar flight to Perth, according to local media.
Images show Thai immigration officers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport taking the man into custody.
Police arrested the man after they investigated his alleged connection to the Thai teenager, whose body was found in a suitcase behind the Floating Market in Pattaya, on Thailand’s eastern Gulf coast, according to a statement released on social media by Pattaya city police.
The suspect, who denies involvement in the teenager’s alleged abduction and murder, was taken into custody after an interrogation, a police official in the resort city of Pattaya told Agence France-Presse.
Investigators were awaiting the results of a postmortem examination and “other evidence” in the case before filing charges, the official said.
The charges could include child abduction, murder, hiding a corpse and “abduction of a minor for sexual purposes”, added the official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity.
Police allege CCTV footage showed the suspect entering an apartment in the seaside resort of Pattaya in the early hours of Thursday along with the 17-year-old Thai girl, according to reports.
He emerged from the building several hours later, the reports said, carrying a large black suitcase which he then transported on the back of a motorbike.
Police found the suitcase on Friday near a railway track, discovering the victim’s body inside it bearing signs of violence, local website the Pattaya News reported.
In the statement released on social media, police also confirmed that an Australian national was detained at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport while allegedly attempting to flee the country in connection with the case.
Pattaya 24 News shared CCTV footage of the girl holding hands with a man of caucasian appearance while waiting for an elevator shortly after 3.30am on Thursday. They also shared CCTV footage of the man taking a suitcase out of the building.
Pattaya city police station requested a watch notice to immigration officers at the airport to prevent the man leaving Thailand as they investigated his alleged connection to the teenager, the Nation Thailand reported.
Police questioned the suspect, who then gave information about where the suitcase had allegedly been discarded.
“After receiving the information, Immigration officers coordinated with investigators from Pattaya City Police Station, who rushed to inspect the location. Officers later found the body of [the teenage girl] based on the information provided during questioning,” the local outlet stated.
Police arrested the man on charges related to murder and concealment of a body, according to the Nation.
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the department “is providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Thailand”.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
Thai police have arrested a 46-year-old Australian at Bangkok airport on Friday evening while he was preparing to depart for Perth. The arrest follows the discovery of a 17-year-old Thai girl's body in a suitcase near Pattaya on the eastern coast. According to police statements, CCTV footage from Thursday morning shows a man matching the suspect's description entering an apartment with the girl around 3:30am, then exiting several hours later carrying a large black suitcase which he transported by motorbike. The suitcase was found near railway tracks on Friday. The suspect denies involvement in the girl's death. Police are conducting investigations, including a postmortem examination, before filing formal charges. Potential charges include murder, child abduction, concealment of a body, and abduction of a minor for sexual purposes. The Australian government confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the detained national.
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
An Australian man has been arrested at a Thai airport in connection with the alleged murder of a 17-year-old girl whose naked body was found in a suitcase, according to local police.
The man, 46, was stopped at about 9.30pm on Friday while preparing to travel on a Jetstar flight to Perth, according to local media.
Images show Thai immigration officers at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport taking the man into custody.
Police arrested the man after they investigated his alleged connection to the Thai teenager, whose body was found in a suitcase behind the Floating Market in Pattaya, on Thailand’s eastern Gulf coast, according to a statement released on social media by Pattaya city police.
The suspect, who denies involvement in the teenager’s alleged abduction and murder, was taken into custody after an interrogation, a police official in the resort city of Pattaya told Agence France-Presse.
Investigators were awaiting the results of a postmortem examination and “other evidence” in the case before filing charges, the official said.
The charges could include child abduction, murder, hiding a corpse and “abduction of a minor for sexual purposes”, added the official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity.
Police allege CCTV footage showed the suspect entering an apartment in the seaside resort of Pattaya in the early hours of Thursday along with the 17-year-old Thai girl, according to reports.
He emerged from the building several hours later, the reports said, carrying a large black suitcase which he then transported on the back of a motorbike.
Police found the suitcase on Friday near a railway track, discovering the victim’s body inside it bearing signs of violence, local website the Pattaya News reported.
In the statement released on social media, police also confirmed that an Australian national was detained at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport while allegedly attempting to flee the country in connection with the case.
Pattaya 24 News shared CCTV footage of the girl holding hands with a man of caucasian appearance while waiting for an elevator shortly after 3.30am on Thursday. They also shared CCTV footage of the man taking a suitcase out of the building.
Pattaya city police station requested a watch notice to immigration officers at the airport to prevent the man leaving Thailand as they investigated his alleged connection to the teenager, the Nation Thailand reported.
Police questioned the suspect, who then gave information about where the suitcase had allegedly been discarded.
“After receiving the information, Immigration officers coordinated with investigators from Pattaya City Police Station, who rushed to inspect the location. Officers later found the body of [the teenage girl] based on the information provided during questioning,” the local outlet stated.
Police arrested the man on charges related to murder and concealment of a body, according to the Nation.
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the department “is providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Thailand”.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
A 46-year-old Australian man was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport at approximately 9:30pm on Friday while preparing to board a Jetstar flight to Perth. The arrest followed the discovery of a 17-year-old Thai girl's body inside a suitcase near the Floating Market in Pattaya. CCTV footage reportedly shows the man entering an apartment in Pattaya with the girl in the early hours of Thursday, around 3:30am. The suspect emerged from the building several hours later carrying a large black suitcase, which he transported on a motorbike. The suitcase was discovered on Friday near railway tracks with the girl's body inside, bearing signs of violence. The suspect denies involvement in the girl's alleged abduction and murder. Police stated they were awaiting postmortem results and other evidence before filing formal charges. Potential charges include murder, child abduction, concealment of a body, and abduction of a minor for sexual purposes. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the detained national.
Read the full story at The Guardian ↗ · The Guardian ↗ · Al Jazeera ↗
- A 46-year-old Australian man was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport on Friday while attempting to board a flight to Perth.
- Thai police allege he is connected to the death of a 17-year-old girl whose body was found in a suitcase near Pattaya.
- CCTV footage reportedly shows the man entering an apartment with the girl early Thursday, then leaving with a large black suitcase hours later.
- The suspect denies involvement; police are awaiting postmortem results before filing formal charges including murder, child abduction, and concealment of a body.
- The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance.