Source : Perth Now news
An Australian man is being held in Thailand accused of the gruesome murder of a teenager whose body was reportedly found stuffed into a suitcase.
According to local reports, the 46-year-old national was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Friday while attempted to leave the Asian nation.
His arrest comes after the body of a 17-year-old girl was discovered abandoned in a suitcase alongside a railway track in Pattaya.
The teen was last seen entering a hotel in The Gulf coast city at about 3.30am on Thursday, local time.
CCTV published by Thai media outlet Buzzin Pattaya shows the teenager holding hands with a man believed to be the arrested Australian.
It is alleged that the man had picked up the girl from Pattaya’s Beach Road in the early hours, with friends reporting her missing on Friday.
It is then reported that the Australian was arrested while attempting to board a plan in the Bangkok airport late on Friday night.
At about 11pm local time on Friday, the teenager’s naked body was allegedly found stuffed into a suitcase alongside a railway line – about 10 minutes from the hotel where she was last seen.
Police in Thailand have told Viral Press that the suspect has initially been charged with “taking a minor for the purpose of committing an indecent act”.
“We believe he killed her and he is being questioned on suspicion of murder,” Pattaya City Police Superintendent Anek Sarathongyu told the media outlet.
A spokesperson for Australian authorities confirmed government departments were aware of the case.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Thailand,” the statement read.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
NewsWire has contacted Australian Federal Police who did not provide comment.
More to come
