Tourist raped by van driver she asked for help

Tourist raped by van driver she asked for help

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Police have the accused van driver re-enact the crime, at his van, on Monday. (Police photo)
Police have the accused van driver re-enact the crime, at his van, on Monday. (Police photo)

PHUKET - A 43-year-old van driver was arrested after a Ukrainian woman complained to police she was raped after asking him to share his internet connection with her so she could contact and find her friend.

Police said the man, identified only as Sukan, was arrested at a snooker club in tambon Rassada of Muang district about 5pm on Monday.

The man allegedly confessed under questioning that he had forced a Ukrainian woman into his van and raped her before taking her back to her accommodation in tambon Kamala of Kathu district.

The woman filed a police complaint about 5.30am on Monday.

She said she initially used a ride-hailing app to have a motorcyclist pick her up at a hotel on Sri Soonthorn Road in Thalang district and take her to a place in Muang district where she expected to meet a friend.

After being dropped there, she was unable to find her friend. She had no internet connection to contact her, so she looked for someone whose internet she could share. She met the van driver. 

The suspect allegedly admitted raping the woman at the entrance to a housing estate on Chaloem Phrakiat Road in Rassada between 2am and 3am on Monday after she approached him, asking to share his internet signal.

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