Cops catch up with suspect in NZ tourist rape case

A construction worker accused of raping a New Zealand woman in Bangkok on Saturday has been arrested in Chon Buri after spending three days on the run.

Immigration Bureau chief, Pol Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn, confirmed the arrest of rape suspect Anat Ouddee yesterday.

Mr Anat, 34, who was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court, was apprehended at a house in tambon Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district of the eastern province on Tuesday and was taken to Samran Rat police station in Bangkok for interrogation.

The manhunt and arrest came after a New Zealand tourist, 29, filed a complaint with Samran Rat police, saying she was raped at a construction site opposite Wat Rajbophit in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police examined CCTV footage from the area, which showed a woman dressed in black getting out of a taxi at 2.33am on Saturday before sitting down on a kerb at the entrance to an alley.

It also showed a man entering the alley and stopping to talk to her as she sat with her head lowered.

The man then took her hand and led her down the alley towards the construction site. The woman later sought help from police.

Pol Maj Gen Surachate said Mr Anat confessed he tried to have sex with the woman, but claimed he was not successful. The suspect admitted he stumbled on the woman, apparently drunk and led her away in the hope of having sex.

Interrogators were not convinced and were awaiting forensic and DNA test results.