Thirteen years after a high-profile case involving a woman raped by a railway employee on a Bangkok-bound train, the Supreme Court yesterday ordered the state railway to pay compensation it promised six years ago.
The victim, whose name is withheld, will receive THB5.2 million from the State Railway of Thailand after the court brokered an agreement.
“I’d like SRT to use the money to develop train system in Thailand,” she told Thairath. “The past incident was my nightmare, and I don’t want it to happen with anyone else. I hope the story has become a lesson that leads to improvements.”
She had previously demanded THB18 million in compensation after she was raped by Natthapat Chakchai, a SRT temporary employee on a Sungai Kolok to Bangkok sleeper train in July, 2001.
Natthapat was sentenced to a nine-year jail term in 2008, and suffering serious psychological effects from the attack, the woman moved abroad.
The SRT was originally ordered to provide THB3 million in 2008 but filed appeals to delay payment. Although the amount with interest had now reached THB10 million, the woman agreed at yesterday’s hearing to THB5.2 offered by SRT.
Sadly her story resurfaced in the media earlier this year when she wrote an open letter to SRT after a 13-year-old girl was raped and murdered on a train in July.
“I heard about the heart-wrenching incident and wonder how could there be another victim after me,” the letter said. “Why wasn’t I the last?”
Wanchai Saengkao was convicted of that crime and sentenced to death on Sept. 30. His case is currently being appealed.
Related:
Why again, asks woman traumatized by 2001 rape on train
Train rapist was SRT employee, says he raped twice before
Alleged accomplice in train rape-murder withdraws his confession
