CHIANG MAI — Police arrested a 29-year-old man in Chiang Mai on Monday allegedly for hitting female motorcyclists and raping them on local roads late at night in the past year.
Pornchai Nanta, a native of San Sai district in Chiang Mai, was arrested at Khrua Ton Nam-Ton Khao restaurant in tambon Yuan of Chiang Kham district, Phayao. He was wanted under an arrest warrant for multiple rapes and robberies on a number of roads in Chiang Mai.
Pol Col Theerapol Intarasilp, deputy chief of Chiang Mai police, said at a news conference at the Chiang Mai police headquarters that the suspect had committed the crime by riding after the victims on motorcycles. He then kicked their vehicles so they fell and then robbed and raped them. The crime had been committed repeatedly on Rob Sam Bypass and Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai Road since June last year, the deputy said.
Surveillance camera footage finally helped police identify the suspect, Pol Col Theerapol said. The man had also robbed people in the areas. He had been arrested in 2004 and 2008 and later released from jail.
Police first went to his home but learned that he fled and worked in Phayao.
At the briefing, Mr Pornchai confessed he had robbed and raped seven women whose motorcycles had been kicked and fallen to the ground. The robberies and rapes happened on the roadsides and the latest attack was on May 5.