Warrant issued for armed rape suspect

KALASIN: The Kalasin provincial court has approved a police request for a warrant for the arrest of a man suspected of shooting a student in the face and abducting and raping his female companion.

Kalasin police chief Pol Maj Gen Montree Charanpong said the court has approved the warrant for the suspect identified as Thisanu Thonarat, 30, on charges of attempted murder, rape, and carrying weapons without authorisation.

Pol Maj Gen Montree said police, armed with a search warrant, raided a house belonging to Mr Thisanu in tambon Natan in Kalasin’s Kham Muang district on Wednesday night.

The suspect was not at home, but police seized a black Toyota Vigo pickup truck for forensic and fingerprint examination. The vehicle matched the description given by the female student who was the rape victim, the officer said.

Pol Maj Gen Montree said police have launched a large-scale hunt for the suspect. The search covers areas around Phu Phan mountain in Kham Muang district, and the houses of the suspect’s relatives in Sakon Nakhon.

The suspect may now have fled to Bangkok, Pol Maj Gen Montree said, adding police expect to arrest him soon.

A check has also found the suspect was involved in drugs, Pol Maj Gen Montree said, adding that police involved in the hunt have been told to be extra cautious as the suspect is carrying a weapon.

The distraught 21-year-old woman, also a university student, stumbled into Phu Phan police station in neighbouring Sakon Nakhon province about 5am on Tuesday. She told police her attacker allowed her to go free after he raped her on Phu Phan mountain.

Sema Saengrit, the 23-year-old shooting victim, later told police a pickup truck cut in front of his motorcycle outside Wat Aranyikawas in Kalasin’s Na Mon district about 1am on Tuesday.

A man in the truck then shot him in the face before abducting the young woman who was riding pillion on his motorcycle.

Mr Sema said the bullet had only pierced his cheeks, so he played dead and later called for help.

He said that the attack occurred when he and the woman were returning to their university to complete a project after having bought some food.