Nattapong Sutthikaew
(front left, standing next to his van) has been questioned for allegedly
raping a Thai go-go dancer.
Boonlua Chatree
A Khon Kaen van driver was arrested for allegedly snatching a
Jomtien Beach go-go dancer off the street and raping her.
Nattapong Sutthikaew, 30, was apprehended June 28 at the Thepprasit
Housing Project, along with the yellow TCL Services van allegedly used
in the attack on a 25-year-old woman.
The woman told police she is a dancer at a Jomtien Soi 4 bar and was two
blocks from work when Nattapong jumped out of van, pulled her inside,
covered her mouth and assaulted her. Afterward, she said, he threw 800
baht at her and tossed her from the van before escaping.
Nattapong had a different story, denying he raped the dancer and that he
simply paid her for services rendered. He said he didn’t flee, but
simply drove home and wasn’t running from anyone.
The woman insisted police press charges against Nattapong, saying that
while she worked in a go-go bar, she was not a prostitute. Even if she
was, she said, 800 baht was insufficient payment. However, she insisted,
she wouldn’t have complied even for 10,000 baht.
Police released Nattapong pending further investigation. Investigators
said if evidence warrants it, an arrest warrant for the van driver will
be issued.
