6-7-2024 (BANGKOK) A Thai man’s apprehension for recording videos of women in a public restroom has ignited a wave of outrage, with one of the victims expressing dissatisfaction with the way police handled the offensive act. The incident unfolded at a restaurant on Chaiyapruek Road in Pak Kret district on Friday night, prompting authorities to intervene swiftly.
Upon receiving the alert, police officers rushed to the scene, where they found the perpetrator, identified only as Amnat, being restrained by the restaurant staff. Pantharee, one of the victims and a customer at the establishment, recounted the harrowing ordeal to investigators.
According to Pantharee’s account, she was dining with six friends when they took turns using the restroom. It was during this routine visit that she made the unsettling discovery – a man using his smartphone to record through a gap in the stall wall. Raising the alarm, Pantharee’s cries for help prompted the restaurant owner and staff to apprehend the suspect, Amnat.
In a shocking revelation, when police examined Amnat’s phone, they uncovered videos of five different women recorded in the restroom on the same night. The victims were understandably concerned about the potential dissemination of these invasive recordings via the Line messaging app before the phone was confiscated.
Authorities initially intended to delete the clips, but the victims insisted on a more decisive measure. They demanded that the suspect destroy his own phone, ensuring the videos would not be leaked. Amnat complied, destroying and discarding the device.
However, the incident took an unsettling turn when police advised the victims, including Pantharee, to settle the matter with the suspect and seek legal representation if they wished to pursue further action. This response left Pantharee fuming.
“Perhaps the police will take serious action when someone is raped or abused,” she exclaimed. “The suspect was fined only 1,200 baht, and with this punishment, I fear he might reoffend soon.”
Pantharee’s words echo the growing concerns over the perceived leniency displayed by law enforcement in handling such offenses. The incident has sparked a broader discussion about the need for more robust measures to protect individuals’ privacy and dignity, as well as the importance of appropriate consequences for perpetrators.
