The Krabi man who admitted to carrying out a sex attack on an American tourist as he was guiding her back to a resort in Railay Beach, Krabi has been sentenced to five years in prison, police confirmed yesterday.
Ao Nang Deputy Police Chief Lt. Col. Winai Poonsawas told The Phuket News that the court reached its decision on Oct. 17 that Apai Raingworchai, 28, was guilty for the sex attack on American Hannah Gavios on Sept. 1 and that he has been sentenced to a five-year jail term.
Apai Raingworchai. Photo: The Phuket News
Apai was found guilty on the charges of sexual assault and assault causing serious injury. His sentence was commuted from ten years due to his confession.
Hannah Gavios, a 23-year-old from Queens, New York, survived a 45-meter fall down the mountain slope as she attempted to flee her sex attacker.
In an interview with The Mirror, Gavios said she was lost and went into a local tourist shop asking for her way back to the hotel. The shopkeepers told her to follow Apai, one of their workers.
In the middle of the woods, Apai attacked her. The victim ran off the edge of a cliff while running through the night and fell 45 meters, fracturing her spine and smashing her head when she landed.
Apai then scrambled down the cliff and sexually assaulted her.
READ: 45-meter fall, sexually assaulted backpacker Hannah Gavios shares story from hospital bed
Gavios, who taught English in Vietnam before beginning her travel in Thailand, was treated at Phuket International Hospital for three weeks before leaving for her hometown.
She did not appear in the trial but had given her statement to the police before leaving Thailand.
Gavios’ mother confirmed with NY Daily News yesterday that the victim is now walking again with custom foot braces. She’s expected to take at least two years to recover.
Related:
Police move quickly to trial for man who confessed to sex attack on American backpacker
45-meter fall, sexually assaulted backpacker Hannah Gavios shares story from hospital bed
American woman fleeing sexual assault survives 45-meter mountain fall in Krabi
Reader Interactions