BURI RAM: A 50-year-old man charged with raping a 9-year-old girl at a village in Phlapphlachai district has told police the child was in love with him.
The accused man, named only as Prawit by police, had only recently arrived from Bangkok to stay at a friend's house in tambon Phachan.
He was arrested in a paddy field not far from the village on Thursday, following a complaint by the girl's grandfather, Anucha Ruengamornrat, chief of Phlapphlachai district, said.
The man did not resist when police and local officials took him into custody. He was taken to Phlapphlachai police station.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to having sexual intercourse with the 9-year-old girl in a makeshift hut near the village on June 21, according to police.
He said he had not lured or forced her into having sex with him. He claimed the girl fell in love with him.
Pol Capt Wattana Ardsalee, deputy investigation chief, said the girl was taken to hospital for an examination. Officers would question the child in the presence of welfare officials, he said.
Village chief Sua Sudsaengsang said the girl's grandfather told her that Prawit had moved to the village from Bangkok only a month ago. He was staying at the house of one the grandfather's sons.