Police inspector in Koh Kood rape case transferred

Five Cambodian fishermen had been brought into custody on charges of raping and assaulting foreign tourists near a Koh Kood hotel, deputy police spokesman Pol Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen said.
Yesterday, Chakthip assigned his deputy Pol General Wut Liptapanlop to lead a team to inspect the Koh Kood crime scene, interview suspects, and give moral support to the victims and try to restore confidence among tourists in general, he said.
Krissana also affirmed that although neither the victims nor the suspects were Thai, the alleged crime took place on Thai territory and the country’s laws would be applied. He said police had been instructed to carry out a |careful and thorough investigation.
Chakthip said police normally provide security to tourists, both Thais and foreigners, but opportunities for crime still arose. He said police would try to determine the facts behind the case and determine if officers had not |performed their duties. The Koh Kood tourist police inspector had been |transferred because he had not alerted supervisors immediately of the attack, he explained.
Police said the Cambodian suspects had been working on a fishing boat ‘Sor Prasert’ and swam ashore on the night of the drama to drink alcohol. They allegedly surprised the four French tourists in a dark, isolated area behind the hotel resort, assaulted all four with knives and sticks, and raped the two women. One of the men escaped and alerted hotel staff, while the other three were seriously injured and taken to hospital.