Squid vendor arrested for molesting young stepdaughter

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A drug-using squid seller has been arrested for allegedly molesting his 10-year-old stepdaughter.

Panravee Phodej, 33, was taken into custody Jan. 25 on an arrest warrant issued by the Pattaya Provincial Court after he had fled from home.

The suspect, who tested positive for methamphetamine use, allegedly was involved in a robbery in Samut Prakan earlier, said Pattaya Police Chief Pol. Col. Sukthat Pumpunmuang.

Panravee Phodej (left) has been arrested and charged with raping his 10-year-old stepdaughter.

He was charged with molesting a child under age 13 and use of a Class 1 narcotic.

Police said the dried-squid vendor confessed to abusing the girl, saying about two months ago she came into his bedroom and cuddled with him. He said he could not resist then having sex with her, but insisted he did not force the girl.

That contradicted the girl’s story. When her grandmother filed a police complaint, she said the girl said her stepfather threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the assaults.

When his wife would leave the house, he’d molest the girl again, about 10 times over two months, police said.