Man Arrested for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Koi Fish in Bangkok

A 51-year-old man has been arrested in Bangkok for allegedly entering a private fish pond and sexually abusing koi fish, after the owner discovered the incident on CCTV. Pol. Col. Yutthasilp Karin, chief of Thung Song Hong Police Station, ordered officers to track down the suspect, identified as Suchitchai, also known as Tong, 51. The incident took place outside a house in Soi Vibhavadi Rangsit 66 at around 8:00 PM on September 7. CCTV footage showed the suspect arriving by bicycle at about 8:30 PM and parking beside the fish pond. He walked around the pond before exposing his genitals and attempting to catch a koi fish. At about 8:38 PM, the suspect allegedly stripped naked, climbed into the pond and caught a koi, using it to masturbate before returning the fish to the pond. A housekeeper and the fish owner subsequently discovered the suspect. He fled on his bicycle as the owner chased him, but the owner fell and was injured. A police complaint was later filed at Thung Song Hong Police Station. Investigators believed the suspect lived nearby because he had used a bicycle to flee. On the afternoon of September 10, officers spotted him wearing the same clothes he had allegedly worn during the incident while walking near the Siang Kong Lak Si area. When he saw police, he attempted to flee. Officers chased him and made the arrest. During questioning, Suchitchai allegedly admitted that he was the person shown in the CCTV footage. He told police that he had initially gone to the area intending to take a bath. After seeing the koi swimming in the pond, he became sexually aroused and caught a fish to masturbate. He allegedly said he did this twice. The suspect also allegedly told police that he had engaged in similar behaviour with other fish. He said he avoided sucker fish because they have spines, while koi did not cause as much pain. He also reportedly told investigators that he had no money to pay for sex and did not have a partner. Police said the suspect admitted using drugs, but claimed he did not have money to buy them and instead used drugs he had found. The suspect also allegedly told police that several years ago he had sexually abused a female dog with puppies and was subsequently arrested by Bang Khen police and imprisoned. He also said he had previously sexually abused a doll he found in a rubbish dump. Fish owner noticed koi dying The fish owner, who identified himself as Bobby, told reporters that he had kept the koi for about seven to eight years. He said the suspect was a familiar sight in the area and was often seen walking past the house. Bobby said he had previously noticed nothing more serious than wet ground and therefore did not suspect anything. However, he became suspicious when his koi began dying one or two at a time. The dead fish were found with their bodies bent, which he initially thought could have been caused by the fish fighting or hitting the pond. The house had CCTV cameras installed for some time, but Bobby said he rarely checked them because there had been no reason to do so. On the afternoon of September 7, the suspect allegedly threw a sex toy near the pond. A housekeeper saw it and threw it away. The incident prompted Bobby to adjust the CCTV camera so that it clearly covered the pond. Later that evening, the CCTV footage showed the suspect masturbating beside the pond and, at one point, catching and sexually abusing a koi. Bobby said he ran downstairs and chased the suspect, who escaped by bicycle. Bobby fell while running because he was wearing flip-flops and was injured. After filing a police complaint, Bobby received information that the suspect had been seen around Siang Kong Lak Si. He later spotted the man after crossing the road to eat near Chaeng Watthana Soi 6 and contacted patrol officers. The suspect ran across the road and escaped again, narrowly avoiding being hit by a vehicle. Bobby thanked police for eventually tracking down and arresting him. He said he was concerned that the suspect could pose a danger to other people, particularly women and children, claiming that the man used drugs and carried a knife. Police are continuing to question the suspect and gather evidence. Investigators are considering charges including animal cruelty, causing property damage, committing an indecent act and nighttime trespassing.