Four people have been arrested and police are searching for two more after a new accusation of rape led them to seek fresh warrants in connection with the death a popular promotional model.
All six suspects were present at the Bangkok house party where 25-year-old Thitim “Bell” Noraphanpiphat was last seen conscious last week, and they are accused sexual assault as well as aiding and abetting a crime, police said. The charges stem from a second woman’s accusations.
The Nonthaburi Provincial Court yesterday issued the warrants after another woman, also a model for hire, told the police she was raped the same night at the same private residence in the northwest metropolitan area.
The four suspects already in police custody are party hosts 29-year-old Chaiyapol Panna and 33-year-old Nathee Sathitpongsathaporn, as well as two attendees: 24-year-old Pikulthong Boonta and Koset Rithnitirerk, 35.
All four were taken to the house in Nonthaburi’s Bang Bua Thong district and led through a police “re-enactment” of the night of the party. Police said some of the suspects have confessed to crimes but did not publicize the details, saying the investigation was ongoing and more arrests may occur.
The four, as well as a male model arrested Wednesday, are being held at Nonthaburi Provincial Court.
The two at large are reported to be Kritsada Lohitdee, 27 and Pattanan Raksakul, a 26-year-old promotional model.
The arrest warrants were issued after another pretty, identified only as “Dear,” told the police she was assaulted at the same party several hours later after Thitim was gone, taken by Rachadech Wongthabutr, who was arrested earlier this week.
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Dear said she arrived at the house at around 10pm and was supposed to work until about 3am but passed out drunk and didn’t wake up until 10am the following day. Though the party occurred on the first floor, media reports indicate that Dear woke up on a bed on the second floor. Her underwear had been removed and was piled on the floor next to the bed. Instead of her underwear, she said she was wearing black spandex pants that didn’t belong to her.
When she provided police with her undergarments from the incident and sheets from the bed as evidence, the authorities found traces of semen. Officials are currently trying to find a match.
Rachadech – the male model at the center of the sordid tale that’s riveted the kingdom – was arrested Wednesday and charged with three counts including false imprisonment and sexual assault. He is currently being held at the Thon Buri Criminal Court.
Metro police chief Sutthipong Wongpin said on the day of his arrest that the investigation had not concluded amid mounting public pressure to pursue the hosts of the party where Thitim was hired as an entertainer.
Police believe she died either soon before or after Rachadech left the party with her in his car. He took her home to his room and kept here there roughly six hours before leaving her body in the lobby for her friends to pick up. He has been charged with a number of crimes including sexual assault.
Update: This story has been updated with additional information about the suspects and their appearance Friday at the house where Thitim was last seen alive.
Related:
Man who took dead model to his room arrested on sexual assault charges: police
‘Pretty’ Lunlabelle was dead all night, long before her body left in lobby: police
Police move to charge Rachadech with charges related to model’s death
In final hours, Bangkok model left trail of clues (Interactive Timeline)
Sinister messages emerge as birthday-funeral held for Thai model
Dead model left in lobby likely sexually assaulted, examination finds
