British woman withdraws her rape claim

BANGKOK, Sept 25 (TNA) -- A British woman withdraws her rape claim after filing police report out of misunderstanding that she had been raped while taking vacation on Thailand’s Koh Pa-ngan island. Elizabeth Joanna called and informed about the claim to her father who later alerted the British Embassy in Thailand. The 25-year-old initially claimed she was raped inside her room on the island after returning from a party early Sunday morning. She said she woke up naked and exhausted but could not remember anything. Out of speculation of being raped she called her father. The British Embassy in Thailand later informed Koh Pha-Ngan police of the claim. Shortly afterward, local and tourist police took her to Koh Pha-Ngan Hospital for an examination and conduct investigation. Physical examination and investigation police found no clue supporting her claim. Pol Colonel Kritsana Patanacharoen, deputy national police spokesman, said Monday Joanna with the presence of British consulate officials accepted police findings and apologized for her false claim. He said “no witnesses saw anyone entering her room and medical checks show nothing wrong: no signs of rape or drug abuse.” Deputy tourist police chief Pol Maj-General Surachate Hakparn said it was an example for tourists. Should they deliberately filing a false complaint they could be prosecuted and blacklisted. Speaking of another rape claim by a British tourist on nearby Koh Tao island in June, Pol Maj-General Surachet said the British Embassy just informed that 19-year-old woman, Isabel Victoria Bakter, agreed to take questionings from Thai police in the UK. Thai police planned to send officers to meet her this month. Bakter claimed she had been raped on Koh Tao but Thai police find no evidence to support her claim. (END)