Police officer identified in line-up but denies rape claim
An officer from Thong Lor Police in Bangkok accused of raping an 18-year-old woman from Laos while sidelining as taxi driver on April 21 surrendered yesterday afternoon, but denied any wrongdoing.
Pol Sub Lt Thatree Seubsaman, 53, who was wanted by Samut Prakan Muang district police, was also identified as the culprit in a line-up yesterday.
Before being taken to an apartment in Udomsuk, where the alleged rape took place, Thatree briefly told reporters he came to hear and deny the charges of illegal detention and rape filed against him, but said he would testify in court only.
He was detained at Muang Samut Prakan Police and will be taken today (May 8) to the provincial court for legal processing.
Thatree reported to Thong Lor superintendent Pol Col Chumpol Pumpoung at 10.30am to hear the charges of rape and illegal detention. He denied wrongdoing before Thong Lor police passed him on to Samut Prakan police, who had taken the victim’s complaint.
Thatree was temporarily dismissed from the civil service pending inquiries into the rape allegation. Later, there was a clip from a CCTV camera in Soi Udomsuk 56 that revealed the victim wasn’t handcuffed, as previously reported, but appeared to follow him to the apartment.
