An Australian man has been arrested at a Thai airport in connection with the alleged murder of a 17-year-old girl whose naked body was found in a suitcase. The 46-year-old man was stopped at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport on Friday while preparing to travel on a Jetstar flight to Perth. Thai immigration officers took the man into custody after an interrogation.
He denies involvement in the teenager’s alleged abduction and murder. The suspect was arrested after police investigated his alleged connection to the Thai teenager, whose body was found in a suitcase behind the Floating Market in Pattaya. The body was discovered bearing signs of violence.
Police allege CCTV footage showed the suspect entering an apartment in Pattaya with the 17-year-old girl in the early hours of Thursday. He emerged from the building several hours later, carrying a large black suitcase. The suitcase was later found near a railway track, with the victim’s body inside.
The charges against the suspect could include child abduction, murder, hiding a corpse, and abduction of a minor for sexual purposes. Investigators are awaiting the results of a postmortem examination and other evidence in the case before filing charges. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the detained Australian man.
However, due to privacy obligations, no further comment was provided.