SAMUT PRAKAN - A 29-year-old wanted for allegedly raping an assistant nurse has been caught following a seven-hour police siege that included an exchange of gunfire at a love motel in Bang Phli district on Wednesday night.
Thanapol Ninpat had allegedly broken into the rented room of the 18-year-old assistant nurse in Bangkok’s Suan Luang area in the early hours of Sept 11. She told police she was raped and the assailant fled with her valuables.
Thanapol Ninpat, 29, is nabbed on Wednesday night for allegedly raping an 18-year-old assistant nurse. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)
A team of city police went to the Barroza motel on Kingkaew Road early Wednesday afternoon after an investigation revealed the suspect might have sought refuge there.
Shortly after, Mr Thanapol emerged from a room, then quickly ran back inside upon seeing the police. He then allegedly fired shots from the room, prompting police to ask hotel guests and staff to leave the premises for their own safety.
An exchange of gunfire subsequently erupted. However, the suspect refused to surrender and threatened to take his own life if the police moved in to arrest him, reports said. He refused all requests to surrender.
Police from several stations were deployed to surround the motel.
Around 7pm, 50 officers from Arintharat special police task force arrived, stormed the hotel room and then arrested the suspect, who was found hiding in the ceiling of another room.
Pol Maj Gen Suwat Jaengyodsuk, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, said the suspect would face additional charges of attempted murder of police officers and publicly carrying a weapon, on top of the rape and theft charges. He would also be tested for drug use.
During interrogation, the suspect reportedly claimed he had no intention to rape the victim when breaking into her room to steal. But when the woman woke up and saw him, he raped her, according to police.
Pol Maj Gen Nanthachart Supamongkol, chief of Metropolitan Police Division 4, said Mr Thanapol had a criminal record involving theft and drug use, but not rape.