A 46-year-old Australian man was arrested at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok on Friday evening after the body of a 17-year-old Thai girl was discovered in a suitcase, according to local media reports.
Arrest at Bangkok Airport
The man was stopped at approximately 9:30pm local time while preparing to board a Jetstar flight to Perth, as reported by the Nation Thailand. Images show Thai immigration officers taking the man into custody at the airport.
Body Found in Pattaya
The arrest came after police investigated the man's alleged connection to the Thai teenager, whose body was found in a suitcase behind the Floating Market in Pattaya, on Thailand's eastern Gulf coast, according to the Pattaya News. Pattaya police confirmed in a social media statement that officers found the body after investigating the girl's disappearance. They also confirmed that an Australian national was detained at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport while allegedly attempting to flee the country in connection with the case.
CCTV Evidence
Pattaya 24 News shared CCTV footage on social media showing the girl holding hands with a man of Caucasian appearance while waiting for an elevator shortly after 3:30am on Thursday. Additional footage showed the man taking a suitcase out of the building.
Police Investigation
Pattaya City Police Station requested a watch notice to immigration officers at the airport to prevent the man from leaving Thailand as they investigated his alleged connection to the teenager, the Nation Thailand reported. Police questioned the suspect, who then provided information about where the suitcase had allegedly been discarded.
“After receiving the information, Immigration officers coordinated with investigators from Pattaya City Police Station, who rushed to inspect the location. Officers later found the body of [the teenage girl] based on the information provided during questioning,” the local outlet stated.
Legal Charges
The discovery led police to proceed with legal action on charges related to murder and concealment of a body, according to the Nation.
Consular Assistance
A spokesperson for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed the department “is providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Thailand”. The spokesperson added, “Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
