Swiss Man Arrested for Alleged Sexual Assault of 14-Year-Old Boy on Patong Beach

A SWISS man has been arrested for allegedly luring a 14-year-old boy to Patong Beach and sexually assaulting him with Phuket police having charged him with three serious offences and are opposing bail, TV Channel 7 said today (July 21). The boy’s mother had contacted Ms. Paveena Hongsakul, president of Paveena Foundation for Children and Women, for help via Facebook on Saturday (July 18). At 1 p.m. today, Paveena, along with the victim’s mother, met Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert Sukhum, commander of Phuket Provincial Police, and Pol. Col. Korakrit Khantakrue, superintendent of Patong police station, to follow up on the case after police obtained a warrant from the court to arrest the unidentified Swiss suspect. The victim’s mother revealed that the incident occurred on July 10 when her 14-year-old son went for a walk on the beach near the workplace where he met a foreign man who struck up a conversation, asked to take photos, requested to add him on LINE app, and invited him to accompany him to Patong beach. The boy returned home terrified, having been sexually assaulted. The family rushed him to the hospital and filed a report at Patong police station. After the incident, the suspect continued to contact the victim via messages and attempted to arrange another meeting. The family provided all the messages to the police as crucial evidence. The young victim was fearful and stressed out because the suspect had previously asked him for his address, which led to the family contacting the Paveena Foundation to help closely monitor the case. Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert said that yesterday (July 20), Patong police station gathered evidence and obtained an arrest warrant from the court on charges of “abducting a child under 15 years of age for indecent purposes, rape of a child under 15 years of age, and indecent acts against a child under 15 years of age.” The suspect was subsequently arrested, and his mobile phones and a laptop computer were seized for examination. Numerous data and images were found on the electronic devices, which are currently being examined to compile a case file. The suspect will be taken to Phuket Provincial Court, and bail will be opposed. Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert added that the Immigration Bureau will consider legal action over the suspect’s residency status and visa revocation. Meanwhile, Paveena said that she has coordinated with Phuket Provincial Justice Office, Phuket Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office, and Phuket Provincial Children and Family Shelter to jointly develop measures to fully protect the victim and his family. She also confirmed that her foundation will closely monitor this case to ensure that justice proceeds fairly and to build public confidence.