The moto-taxi driver suspected of raping an Australian backpacker in Bangkok turned himself in yesterday, claiming the intercourse with the victim was consensual.
Over the last week, police have tried to solve a Dec. 5 case in which a 23-year-old Australian woman claimed she was raped by a tuk tuk driver and his friend near Wattachak, an abandoned building in Taling Chan. As it has turned out, there was only one perpetrator, and he was not a tuk tuk driver as the victim recalled.
Convinced by his family to turn himself in, Eakburut Ritrakkapan, 32, who had fled to Sakhon Nakonnakhon province after he was named as the suspect, went to the police yesterday after a warrant was issued for him on Wednesday.
Eakburut said that he drove a moto-taxi in Khaosan area, and he found the victim in an intoxicated state near Democracy Monument. Eakburut said she was arguing with someone who was inside a pickup truck, so he stepped in to help, Daily News reported.
Before he knew it, she had hopped onto his bike, so he asked her in Thai where she wanted to go, but the woman only said “Go, go.” Only knowing basic English, he drove, but claimed the woman started touching him during the ride.
“I was being groped all the way to the building. She told me to stop [the motorcycle] and started kissing me. I took that as she consented. I did not force her, but I admit I had sex with her.”
“After we were done, I asked her to leave with me, but she refused, so I drove out.”
At the press conference, Eakburut did an apologetic wai for damaging Thailand’s reputation.
Eakburut was taken to a crime-reenactment yesterday, as the prosecution process is ongoing, Bangkok Biz News reported.
