Bangkok Post

Police arrest security guard suspect in Bang Khae condo rape

- WASSAYOS NGAMKHAM

Police have arrested a security guard in Sa Kaeo province, who allegedly raped a condo resident in Bang Khae district of Bangkok on Tuesday.

The manhunt for the suspect lasted nearly three days.

The security guard, Montri Yaikrathog, who was head of the condo’s security, was detained yesterday after his mother and family asked him to come out of hiding in a forest and turn himself in to police waiting at his mother’s house.

Yesterday morning, 200 police began searching for Montri in Khao Ang Rue Nai forest in Sa Kaeo.

They found Montri’s mother’s motorcycle, which he had used to travel from his mother’s house in Wang Nam Yen district to his friend’s place.

According to his friend, identified only as Mr Chatchawan, Montri visited him on the day he allegedly committed the rape, telling him he had quit his job. They drank alcohol together before Montri stayed overnight.

In the morning, Mr Chatchawan told Montri he was going to work and left him at his home before he learnt of the alleged rape in the news.

Deputy Metropolit­an Police Bureau spokesman, Pol Maj Gen Nithithorn Chintakano­n, said he has ordered an investigat­ion into Administra­tion Division 5, which issued the security guard permit for Montri despite him having a criminal record.

Royal Thai Police spokesman Pol Maj Gen Yingyot Thepjamnon­g said the guard had been convicted and imprisoned twice before.

A person who wishes to become a security guard needs to seek a permit from the division, which must find out if they have a criminal record, the spokesman added.

The company which hired Montri will also face punishment, Pol Maj Gen Yingyot said.

According to the law, companies must not hire guards convicted of sexual offences. If they do not check to see if the prospectiv­e hires have a criminal record for such crimes, their executives can face a three-month jail term and a fine of 50,000 baht.

The company who hired Montri said it has tried to offer compensati­on to the victim, who is apparently suffering from depression after the attack.

The incident was reported at 1.50am on Tuesday when Pol Capt Thongchai Thepcharoe­n, deputy inspector of Phetkasem police, received a report about a rape at a condominiu­m where the suspect was still at the scene.

When six patrol police arrived to investigat­e, they found the distraught victim, a 36-year-old resident, who identified Montri as the attacker.

On the day of the alleged rape, the victim said she returned home late and found herself locked out of her apartment. She went down to ask Montri to help with the lock before deciding to call a locksmith.

After seeing off the locksmith, Montri, who appeared intoxicate­d, knocked on her door.

When she opened it, he rushed into the room, restrained her with handcuffs and raped her, according to police.

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