14-9-2023 (BANGKOK) In a harrowing incident that highlights the distressing plight of a 16-year-old student, she made a desperate attempt to end her life by running in front of a train at a railway crossing. The reason behind her despair stemmed from the fact that the four men who gang-raped her were out on bail, while their relatives continued to intimidate both the victim and her family.
The traumatic incident unfolded on Tuesday night in Muang district when the girl, overwhelmed by her circumstances, sprinted towards a railway crossing, determined to collide with an oncoming train. Fortunately, alert passersby intervened swiftly, pulling her to safety just moments before disaster struck.
Law enforcement authorities promptly arrived at the scene and brought her to a local police station to provide comfort and reassurance. Subsequently, she was transferred to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital for the necessary medical attention.
This distressing story began in April when the victim, a Mathayom 4 student from a school in Huai Thalaeng district, fell victim to a brutal gang rape. Shockingly, it took until August for the suspects to be apprehended. When they finally appeared in court, they vehemently denied the charges brought against them. Despite opposition from the police and prosecutors, the court granted their release on a bail amount of 400,000 baht, with the condition that they wear electronic monitoring devices and stay at least one kilometer away from the victim’s residence.
Unfortunately, the girl found herself living in constant fear as the alleged attackers’ houses were located in close proximity to her own, according to a source familiar with the case. To compound matters, relatives of the suspects reportedly resorted to intimidation tactics, further exacerbating the victim’s distress. The relentless harassment drove her to seek treatment at a psychiatric hospital, where she was admitted due to the overwhelming anxiety and fear she experienced.
Allegedly, certain family members of the suspects even threatened legal action against the victim, accusing her of causing embarrassment. They purportedly went so far as to spread rumors about her ordeal, intensifying her feelings of shame and preventing her from attending school, as disclosed by the source.
In an effort to seek justice and support, the girl and her family turned to Kanthat Pongpaiboonvej, also known as Kan Chompalang, a prominent advocate on social media. Kan Chompalang accompanied them on September 1 to meet with Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, as the family expressed their frustration with the lack of progress in the case.
In response to the distressing situation, Pol Col Sitthiphon Thimsungnern, the chief of Huai Thalaeng police station, directed his officers to meet with the suspects’ families. He warned that if the intimidation did not cease, the police would petition the court to revoke the bail granted to the suspects.
It is important to note that the young girl has been battling depression since the age of 12, but has struggled to consistently take her prescribed medication. Reports suggest that she had previously attempted suicide on multiple occasions, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive support and intervention.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, officials from the provincial office of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security intervened by arranging for the girl to receive treatment at Nakhon Ratchasima Rajanagarindra Psychiatric Hospital. Following her treatment, she is now under the care and protection of the Witness Protection Office, a division of the Ministry of Justice.
