Thai - women travellers be VERY careful
Jun 5th, 2003, 06:27 PM
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Thai - women travellers be VERY careful
Friday, June 6, 2003 ( News clip from South China Morning Post, Hong Kong )
Hong Kong woman raped in Bangkok
WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok
A Hong Kong woman was gang-raped near the gates of the Thai parliament after she was abducted while on a shopping trip.
The woman, a reporter who has not been identified, was recovering last night in a "safe house". She claimed that during her ordeal at least one uniformed official turned his back on the attack.
The attack happened in the centre of the Thai capital.
"I've never heard of anything so bad happening so openly," said a detective who works alongside the Bangkok police chief.
The 30-year-old reporter was staying at the Arnoma Hotel, close to the Erawan Shrine which many Hong Kong tourists visit. On Tuesday she took a tuk-tuk to go shopping, but fell asleep in the vehicle. She woke to find herself sandwiched between three men who were molesting her.
The victim told police she tried to get out at least twice but her abductors pressed knives against her neck and side.
The driver stopped directly in front of the Parliament building, where the woman started screaming. She claims her cries were ignored by a man she took to be a police officer.
The woman says the official turned his back after the attackers paid him 10,000 baht (HK$1,800) they had taken off her. She claims that he helped gag her. She was then gang-raped.
Paveena Hongsakul, a member of parliament, said: "This is an utterly terrifying story that almost defies belief. These men treated her like an animal and flung her aside when they had used her."
Two police stations reportedly turned the woman away before the victim and a friend sought help from Ms Paveena, who is secretary-general of the Chart Pattana political party.
The victim returned yesterday to the scene of the crime with Ms Paveena and police officers. The victim said that when the attack was over she had to plead with the attackers for her life.
Eventually they returned her to her hotel after threatening her with death if she reported anything to the authorities.
Ms Paveena said: "This was a disgusting crime that has besmirched Thailand's reputation. Hong Kong people are our friends and many of them come over here to relax."
A representative of the parliamentary guard service yesterday denied that any of its officers could have been involved because when Parliament is not open, its gates are shut and the security men remain inside. He admitted that a patrolling police officer might have seen something.
Hong Kong woman raped in Bangkok
WILLIAM BARNES in Bangkok
A Hong Kong woman was gang-raped near the gates of the Thai parliament after she was abducted while on a shopping trip.
The woman, a reporter who has not been identified, was recovering last night in a "safe house". She claimed that during her ordeal at least one uniformed official turned his back on the attack.
The attack happened in the centre of the Thai capital.
"I've never heard of anything so bad happening so openly," said a detective who works alongside the Bangkok police chief.
The 30-year-old reporter was staying at the Arnoma Hotel, close to the Erawan Shrine which many Hong Kong tourists visit. On Tuesday she took a tuk-tuk to go shopping, but fell asleep in the vehicle. She woke to find herself sandwiched between three men who were molesting her.
The victim told police she tried to get out at least twice but her abductors pressed knives against her neck and side.
The driver stopped directly in front of the Parliament building, where the woman started screaming. She claims her cries were ignored by a man she took to be a police officer.
The woman says the official turned his back after the attackers paid him 10,000 baht (HK$1,800) they had taken off her. She claims that he helped gag her. She was then gang-raped.
Paveena Hongsakul, a member of parliament, said: "This is an utterly terrifying story that almost defies belief. These men treated her like an animal and flung her aside when they had used her."
Two police stations reportedly turned the woman away before the victim and a friend sought help from Ms Paveena, who is secretary-general of the Chart Pattana political party.
The victim returned yesterday to the scene of the crime with Ms Paveena and police officers. The victim said that when the attack was over she had to plead with the attackers for her life.
Eventually they returned her to her hotel after threatening her with death if she reported anything to the authorities.
Ms Paveena said: "This was a disgusting crime that has besmirched Thailand's reputation. Hong Kong people are our friends and many of them come over here to relax."
A representative of the parliamentary guard service yesterday denied that any of its officers could have been involved because when Parliament is not open, its gates are shut and the security men remain inside. He admitted that a patrolling police officer might have seen something.
Jun 10th, 2003, 06:06 PM
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The story is unfortunately true - or at least as claimed by the victim and reported all over Bangkok and Hong Kong -
Bangkok Post
http://www.bangkokpost.net/060603_Ne...03_news16.html
Bangkok Post
http://www.bangkokpost.net/060603_Ne...03_news16.html
Jun 10th, 2003, 06:20 PM
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The latest stories that I have seen on this state that the allegation of rape was not true, based on forensic evidence.
Police are now considering charging the free lance reporter involved and the tuk-tuk driver that she identified has been advised to take civil action against her.
This does not mean that such things could not happen, they can happen anywhere.
Police are now considering charging the free lance reporter involved and the tuk-tuk driver that she identified has been advised to take civil action against her.
This does not mean that such things could not happen, they can happen anywhere.
Jun 12th, 2003, 07:26 PM
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Latest report from a Thai newspaper is that this Hong Kong Women - miss So Leong Ying aka "Irene" does have an extensive criminal record from Hong Kong. The list include: prostitution, drug possession, escaping justice and some other crime. The Hong Kong police department has kindly forwarded her record over.
THIS JUST IN - the Hong Kong women has confessed to the hoax and that she has fabricated the whole story. She is now under arrest in Thailand and could face upto six years in jail.
THIS JUST IN - the Hong Kong women has confessed to the hoax and that she has fabricated the whole story. She is now under arrest in Thailand and could face upto six years in jail.
Jun 16th, 2003, 11:16 AM
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I found this story strange once I read how she happened to get the General secretary of a major Political Party involved so fast!
The more you travel and see different countries, peoples and societies you realise how much 'trash' is reported in the media. This was a slightly different scenario, but....
The more you travel and see different countries, peoples and societies you realise how much 'trash' is reported in the media. This was a slightly different scenario, but....
Jun 16th, 2003, 12:36 PM
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Very interesting/sad story. I was a female travelling alone in Bangkok just last month, and while I didnt' wander thru 'undesirable areas' late at night, I did ride tuk-tuks, the train, walk around the alley ways of chinatown etc and never once did I feel unsafe. I found almost all Thai's to be polite, easy going and friendly. (And I'm even including the tuk-tuk driver who insisted on taking me to 4 or 5 Thailand House 'stores'on a 2 hour ride around Bangkok before he brought me to my hotel-- all for the agreed upon price of 20 bahts --(and no I didn't buy anything at the stores, but did get a great impromptu tour of the city)!
It is sad when these kind of untrue stories get around, as it very well may have caused people to cancel and thus miss out on a wonderful city.
It is sad when these kind of untrue stories get around, as it very well may have caused people to cancel and thus miss out on a wonderful city.
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