TALKS WITH SONGWRITER OF EVIL MAN IN KRABI
A young American student, who said she was raped in Krabi seven weeks before the Dutch model whose ordeal was brought home to Thailand by her father’s musical video protest, has broken her silence on her ordeal.
And like the 19-year-old Dutch victim in the video ‘Evil Man in Krabi’ – the young American from California says she was also attacked on her birthday – her 23rd.
And she too has described how her alleged foreign attacker, who left her badly beaten on the beach, was released by Krabi authorities and allowed to flee the country on bail.
Police in Krabi insist it was not their fault. They arrested the alleged attacker and sent him to court – but the court then bailed him out in the sum of 500,000 baht (£10,000 at the time).
“We understood he left the country before the court notified the immigration authorities.”
The spokesman said that he was concerned for the victim and the image of Thailand but it was in the court hands and there was nothing further the police could do. “We kept the U.S. Embassy fully informed.”
The student – now 24 – came forward after reading on this site about the investigation into the attack on a young Dutch model – and how her attacker was given bail several months later – even though he had previously served time for murder.
Chumpol Khaonuang, 32, was finally jailed for 20 years at Krabi Provincial Court but not before an international outcry created by the father’s video. Chumpol had served time for murder committed when he was 17 when he stabbed another Thai to death.
The alleged rape of the 23-year-old happened on Nopparathara Beach, Ao Nang on May 30 2012. The young American student named her attacker as Malachy Ekene Obinwanne, 24, a footballer for Krabi F.C. in the Thai Premier League.
As in the case of the Dutch girl she never suspected the intentions of her attacker. And like the Dutch girl she had also met him in a local bar.
But whereas the Dutch girl was brutally attacked and had to be treated in hospital for injuries to her face after accepting a lift home from Chumpol on his motorcycle then dragged off the road, the American students says her attacker made his move as he walked her home along the beach.
“I walked to the beach alone with him after the bars. He showed no signs of threat till we got to the beach (dark, alone) and that’s when/where everything happened.
“Not to mention his “wife” (Tibetan) was at the bar that night too, and subsequently came to the hospital to apologize.
“ I don’t remember everything in detail, just thinking this is it. But he then managed to escape somehow. When I ran to the street I was completely naked. Within less than a minute a motor bike approached and I stopped it and got on.
“ It was some local Thai, he could obviously see I was in distress. I pointed the directions back to our hostel, we could not have been more than one kilometre or so away.
“I knocked on the hostel room and my friends called an ambulance. I first went to one hospital but I think it was private so they transferred me to a public hospital in the Ao Nang part, but not entirely sure which one it was.
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| Nopparathara Beach – fifthstorey.com |
“I had contusions everywhere from head to toe, one of my eyes completely shut because it was bruised over, concussion, and perforated ear drum.
Father in ‘Evil Man from Krabi’ video.
“Basically, had the attack taken place on concrete instead of sand I would have been off much worse, perhaps dead.
“When they brought him to my hotel room there was a police with him, he was in handcuffs.
“The translator asked me 3 or 4 times if he was the one who did everything and asked me if I was sure.
“He stood there and kept saying ‘I did this to you? I did this to you?’ pleading innocence. Then they took him away. So, as far as I know, they took him to a holding cell and kept promising they would hold him till the trial.
“I identified Malachy on the first day. The police actually brought him in my hospital room to verify. It was easy for them to track him down since he was on Krabi FC.
Alleged attacker in colours of Pattaya FC “ I was in the hospital for the first few days and just wanted to get the heck out of Krabi, so we left on the promise that if we came back for the trial, they would hold him and press charges, put him into Thai prison, there would be no bail, etc.
‘We went to Bangkok for about a week I think, and the day before we flew back to Krabi a US state Department representative called so say they released him on bail. We went down anyway when he was due to show up..
“ He did not show up of course. Police said they would put out an Interpol alert when they realized he had left the country.”
The alleged victim said she was concerned that the police did not take tests from the alleged attacker to check for AIDS as she was very concerned. The Krabi Police however have stated that Ekene refused such tests as they were against Human Rights. He was however tested for DNA.
While it's great Thailand has an open door policy to tourism, the negative side of it is seen almost daily on this site. Reprobates and career scumbags flock here and take advantage of the lax laws and corruption.
The first question that needs asking is why was he granted bail and why wasn't his passport held? Was it actually bail or a sling to be let go?
I just love how the spokesman just has to mention Thailand's 'image.' I'd ask him what image is he talking about? The image of Thai police being seen as hopelessly corrupt or the image of Thailand having a totally inept legal system?
Those are the $64,000 questions. Its possible by merely getting the next plane out he moved faster than the court system. It is not advisable to challenge a court without a lawyer.
Anyone is entitled to bail, the real worry is he was allowed to leave the country, wasn't his passport held? Even if so , he could have just walked out at the Malaysia border, Sadao is certainly prime for that, place is so conflicted and confused, Thai authorities have no idea of who is doing what. Just walk behind the parking lot, get on a bus, oops you lost your passport to Malaysia authorities , who do have a clue. Or just walk up the road a bit and cross. Or he could have taken a private boat, that's easy enough, too.
Courts should take foreigners ease of escape when granting bail in such cases.
Keep them held and move up trial dates is one possible solution.
Hi Andrew,
I am a tad concerned about this article. It is all very well outing rapists and thugs when they have been convicted by a court of law. It is something else however to show pictures of the accused – was that just a theatrical prop, the football shirt you picture, after all it has a club, name and number, is that the accused's name? – or was that just a typical journalistic weasel way around not naming him in print? Or perhaps it is some other poor bastards shirt you came across in the night market, that you thought might make a good picture. Come on this is sleazy journalism, give the guy a fair trial, don't convict him in the minds of those that may read the article – when he is still technically innocent. In fact your article suggests, hence the strange title, that the victim spoke to the songwriter, the father of the other poor girl raped in Krabi – and not directly to you. Can you please confirm that the quotes you have published came first hand from the alleged victim? After all there is no direct quote to you. Are you not just rehashing what other sources – they may well have a natural bias or agenda – have been told.
Is that the case? If it is, isn't this just hearsay? Typical red top reporting, irresponsible at best , shameful at worst, and thoroughly scurrilous as usual.
You are definitely more shifty than sharp, you effing pr!ck !!
I think it's about time you 'did a runner', Bwian. Fo you lose youa fwont teef in pwison to be moa accommoda'ing fo' you' fewo pwisonez Ha haha 🙂
Dear Sharp and Shifty. No need to be a tad worried. I need to though.
1. The pictures of the accused have been shown before in the Thai national press and English language press.
2. It is indeed the accused's name and he is named in the story.
3. What night market is this?
4. The guy has elected not to go for a fair trial. He has been absconded.
5. Interpol agree with me. You cannot put an alert out for a wanted man unless you name him. Even better if you have a picture. I published two as well as his shirt. The shirt was used on the front page for design reasons. I do not want the site to look like 'The Worlds Most Wanted'.
6. The article does not suggest. It stated that the 'victim' spoke to the songwriter.
7. The story says the victim contacted me quite clearly. She then asked me for the details of the father of the other girl. She is now exchanging dialogue with him. Both have confirmed.
8. The quotes came first hand from the victim. There are direct quotes in the story.
9. So it is not hearsay or the other things you suggest.
For police reply read polite.
Yes, she beat herself up just to spend a few days relaxing in hospital. I guess the suspect bolted because he was innocent! What possible benefit could this girl get by making this all up? Maybe she just wants to see a rapist in jail. He'll may well do it again after getting away with it once. (allegedly)
Professional footballers aren't low profile (yes, he's not Messi) so whenever he surfaces this should follow him round like a foul odour…
In answer to your points;
1. The pictures of the accused have been shown before in the Thai national press and English language press.
So that is your criteria for judging guilt? If the Thai press shows his picture perhaps makes him re-enact the crime then he is guilty, that is your standard? What about your own situation, whereby you have been wrongly accused, only to be exonerated by a court of law?
2. It is indeed the accused's name and he is named in the story. – No he was not, not in the original post.
3. What night market is this? – Well is it is his genuine shirt, or some copy? If it is his actual shirt, where did you get it from and what is its relevance, for example was it seen and laid out and left at at the scene of the crime? The name maybe a very common name, if you laid out a red shirt with the number 10 and the name Rooney, it might make people jump to the wrong conclusions. As a journalist you should be well aware of that.
4. The guy has elected not to go for a fair trial. He has been absconded. – FFS, innocent or guilty with press like you guys on his case, wouldn't you? FFS – that is an unbelievable justification.
5. Interpol agree with me. You cannot put an alert out for a wanted man unless you name him. Even better if you have a picture. I published two as well as his shirt. The shirt was used on the front page for design reasons. I do not want the site to look like 'The Worlds Most Wanted'.
– OK since when the hell did Interpol hunt down non convicted people, especially those on on a rape charge in Thailand? 'The worlds most wanted', FFS that is just nonsense!
6. The article does not suggest. It stated that the 'victim' spoke to the songwriter. – Which was exactly my point.
7. The story says the victim contacted me quite clearly. She then asked me for the details of the father of the other girl. She is now exchanging dialogue with him. Both have confirmed. – Well I am sorry but the headline is extremely ambiguous, as it leads the reader to believe that the songwriter was the one receiving the complaint. I do not in the original document see any direct reference between you and the victim.
8. The quotes came first hand from the victim. There are direct quotes in the story. – Yes direct quotes but to whom? Perhaps start using the word alleged when you define the victim and the assailant, after all you are neither judge nor jury.
9. So it is not hearsay or the other things you suggest. – It is hearsay, and you of all people should understand the wrong it does to those wrongly accused, who may well be innocent. This article was shameful and hypercritical, especially when you expect us to support you in your troubles, yet you are so quick to condemn others.
Oh dear Sharp and Shifty. I tried to give you a police reply. I am still trying.
1. The fact that his name and picture were already published demonstrates that I was not the person to out him. However as he is now a wanted man – he has to be identified – or how can people look for him. I though I had explained this.
2 His name has always been in the story.
3. Yes it is his genuine shirt. I do not have it. The picture is out there.
4. You're slightly mad. I did not write about this guy until he absconded.
5. Interpol have many unconvicted people on their wanted list – that's why they want them – to convict them.
6 an 7 The story is quite clear in stating the victim 'contacted this site'.
8. The direct reports were to myself. Had they been to someone else they would not have been direct quotes and I would have stated as such.
9. Not it is not hearsay. The alleged attacker could have stuck around to defend himself. He chose not to. Why do you think Interpol and police forces around the world have wanted lists? I do not expect anybody to support me but I am grateful when they do.
In Falkirk dialogue, 'more-shifty-than-sharp', so that you may…
unnerstanni? orra be?er. Awa' an' fek aff Bwian, y'ignoran? wee gob-shi?…..
For the rest of the readers, ? is the symbol for the 'glottal stop' a very Scottish sound that replaces many consonants. It emanates from deep in the throat, not too dissimilar to the sound of the Hottentot's of Southern Africa. Generally, but not uniquely used by the less well edjumicated in Scotland.
Waffle, waffle, waffle and even more waffles… Totally deluded !!
Does this eejit not realise when he has been sussed?
He had better enjoy his waffles now as he'll not be able to when he's banged up and loses his fwunt teef. I believe Belgian waffles are the best, Bwian…
So you say – Yes it is his genuine shirt. I do not have it. The picture is out there.
Ok, so you copy and pasted a picture from the internet. However how did you feel when you saw your Porsche in the media?
Then I asked if this was hearsay? – ( you replied) Not it is not hearsay. The alleged attacker could have stuck around to defend himself. He chose not to. Why do you think Interpol and police forces around the world have wanted lists?
Hmm, well consider this;
According to a news report on BBC One presented in 12 November 2007, there were 85,000 women raped in the UK in the previous year, equating to about 230 cases every day. The 2006-07 British Crime Survey reports that 1 in every 200 women suffered from rape in that period. It also showed that only 800 people were convicted of rape crimes that same year, meaning that less than 1 in every 100 reports of rape led to a conviction, So Interpol are hunting down accused, on a return of 100/1 against and this is from one single country?
Andrew it is fraught with problems, any police will tell you that, look at the figures above and that is in the UK alone. Now that mean less than 1 in 100 accusations leads to a conviction, I am not saying that those found not guilty are innocent,.however we must consider the possibility that some, and it may be a considerable figure have been wrongly accused.
Other than to say I have never owned a Porsche and have only had one when a newspaper hired one for me – I can't be bothered to reply to the above. Can anyone help with a police reply?
I can't really help with politeness as it's not my forte. I can provide a suggestion that sharp and shifty please change his handle to dim and shiftless.
The contortions of logic are quite strong here. He's using the fact that most rapes go un-reported to somehow support the fact that reported rapes should not be documented in the press. In fact mister shiftless allow me to explain where you fail at math (that is my strong suit actually, maths).
I've linked to the study you site as you seem to be too lazy to do so:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markeaston/2008/07/rape_a_complex_crime.html
A = 85,000 (Estimated Number of Rapes per Year, from above source)
B = 800 (Estimated number of Convictions per Year, from above source)
You are dividing B/A to arrive at a conviction rate. Where you are failing is the realization that the number A is not actually the number of reported rapes. In fact most rapes go unreported. So if you want to use the batting average argument buddy you need to provide a variable C, the percentage of rapes that are reported and investigated. Even then, I don't think its an acceptable argument. As the survey you cite makes abundantly clear the lack of training and diligence exhibited by police and prosecutors is what leads to an abysmally low conviction rate. Don't you think that perhaps having a brighter spotlight on this issue via journalistic inquiry would help to remedy this situation?
Okay so you say that most rapes go unreported, so where do the police figures come from? They are obviously reported crimes. So that destroys your argument immediately … even if you are a so called maths wizard? You also fail in understanding English. I stated quite clearly that the failure to convict was not down to whether some one was guilty or innocent, but down to the ambiguity of the charge.
Do I feel that journalist should bring a spotlight on these issues, well actually I believe that an alleged suspect should have the same anonymity as the alleged victim.
But that is probably beyond your dubious understanding of mathematics.
And by the way Andrew the word is Polite not Police …. or was that a Freudian slip?
Police ,does not have the same spelling as Polite, are you fucking dyslexic, because that is the second time you have made the same error. Andrew, come on you claim to be a journalist, well at least learn to spell.
One question though, if you have never owned a Porsche, what was the white car that is in the video, were you claim people were stalking you. You remember, the white Porsche, as you drive away from your house in the flood as you say goodbye to your family? I thought the whole point there was to show that you were under surveillance, and in danger … but it was a rented car hired by a newspaper?
zzzzz. Just found a few seconds after tucking into some Danish gaffelbidder – delicious. Sharp and Shifty the rape of the American woman is a reported crime. The defendant was arrested and fled. Police, technically at least, wish to arrest him. Under UK law these matters can be reported. Change the law! The story about the Porsche was of course a spoof – most intelligent people got it. There is no Porsche in any video. No it was not a rented car hired by a newspaper – that was another Porsche – red I seem to remember.
One again if police want to arrest someone on the run they have to name him if they are to have any chance of success. Geddit?
You could starts your own blog – Sympathy for Unconvicted Known Errant RapistS – SUCKERS