TRANG — A man accused of drugging and raping an eight-year-old neighbour was caught in this southern province on Thursday afternoon.
Saranrat "First'' Soosan, 20, was charged with rape and assault, causing the death of a girl aged below 15.
The suspect was taken for a briefing at Trang provincial police office at 3.50pm on Thursday, Siamrath Online reported.
Pol Lt Gen Veerapong Chuenpakdi, chief of Provincial Police region 9, and Pol Maj Gen Daoloy Mueandet, chief of Trang police, jointly announced the arrest of the suspect in the horrific assault against the underage victim.
Police sought court approval from Trang provincial court on Thursday to arrest the 20-year-old neighbour of the victim, who was subsequently caught.
The arrest came after the 31-year-old mother of the girl filed a complaint with police accusing Mr First of drugging and raping her daughter at her house in tambon Nong Trud of Muang district in the early hours of May 10.
- Earlier report: Eight-year-old dies after being drugged, rape
The girl's parents went out to tap rubber at a plantation at the time, leaving alone their three children — their son, 11, the girl and her sister, 4.
The suspect entered the daughters' room and raped the girl, said the mother.
The girl later suffered an acute stomach ache and developed signs of confusion and deliriousness. She was admitted to Trang Hospital and later told her mother what happened.
Mr Saranrat denied the charges, but the results of medical findings at a local hospital found traces of rape on the body of the girl, and witness testimonies showed that the man got involved.
The girl's body was earlier sent to Songklanagarind Hospital for an autopsy. The autopsy and DNA results are expected to be known in one month, said a source.