Thai police invites British tourist to give statement over rape claim

SURAT THANI, Aug 27 (TNA) – Surat Thani Police will invite a British tourist, who claimed that she was drugged and raped on Koh Tao on June 26, to file the complaint within three months of the incident. Commander of the Surat Thani provincial police Pol Maj Gen Apichart Boonsriwirote, said the police will submit the letter to the British embassy to inform the 19-year-old British tourist to file the complaint before the statute of limitation of a rape case expires within three months or on Sept 25. He said if she does not file the rape complaint and give the statement to the police, they police cannot take further action on the rape claim that was reported on a British tabloid website. The police are now investigating the allegation and can only gather circumstantial evidence. The commander said there have been no untoward incidents against tourists in the past four years but only accidents happened. In the case, he said, she is urged to come back to file the complaint for further quick action and clarity over the case. From the news report, the woman said she was drugged and raped on June 26 but police at the neighboring island of Koh Pa-ngan accepted only report on June 25 robbery on, a smart phone and Bt3,000 in cash, but refused to take details of the rape. Police superintendent of Koh Pa-ngan police station where the woman filed the report on June 27 said she and her friend only claimed that she lost her phone and cash two days earlier (June 25), stating that she needed a police document for claiming compensation from her insurance company. (TNA)