PATHUM THANI: A mother has asked for help in protecting her 22-year-old daughter against a man who set her ablaze with petrol and continues to threaten her.
The 44-year-old mother from Ubon Ratchathani province told her story to Pavena Hongsakula, chair of the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women when they met in Thanya Buri district on Thursday.
She said that on July 8 her daughter had a meal with friends near her office in Bang Kholaem district of Bangkok. A 23-year-old man, whose name was withheld, showed up apparently drunk and accused her daughter of disrespecting him by earlier going out with his ex-girlfriend.
Her daughter replied that he and her friend had already separated and they should have their own lives. The man told the group that he would set her on fire, and left.
About 30 minutes later he returned with a bottle of petrol and approached her daughter from behind, poured the liquid on her neck and lit it. Shocked friends put out the blaze and she was taken to Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital.
Local residents detained the man and took him to the police station. A court later released him on bail.
The mother said the man continued to threaten her daughter and friends. Her daughter was still in hospital and feared for her life.
She asked Mrs Pavena to help arrange police protection for her daughter, and encourage police to speed up the man's prosecution for the safety of her daughter.
She quoted doctors as saying that her daughter suffered 2nd-degree burns on her neck, chest, body and limbs and needed to be treated for at least a month.
The picture shows the burnt neck of the 22-year-old woman, at Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital in Bangkok.