2 Indian Men Charged With Raping German Woman On Thai Island

Two Indian men have been charged with allegedly raping a 24-year-old German woman on Koh Pha Ngan island in Thailand, according to a report in Bangkok Post. The incident reportedly occurred in the boulders area of Haad Rin beach, Surat Thani, at 4.50 a.m. on March 14. The survivor filed a police complaint saying the incident occurred when she was intoxicated after a seaside Full Moon party the night before. The two suspects, Vijay Dadasaheb, 47, and Rahul Balasaheb, 40, were arrested on March 16.

Indian Men Charged With Rape In Thailand

The Bangkok Post reported that the two Indian men were wanted on arrest warrants issued by Koh Samui Provincial Court. "Koh Phangan investigators have gathered evidence from the scene and accounts from the victim and witnesses, as well as the collection of DNA samples from all people involved,” a senior officer said.

According to the Post, an eyewitness reported they saw the German woman engaging in consensual sex with a white male tourist on the rocks shortly before the reported rape. The witness claimed the same woman returned with the two Indian men, raising questions about the nature of the encounter.

The alleged survivor told police that she had consumed a lot of alcohol the night of the incident and was uncertain about the identity of the two men. Pol Lt Gen Surapong said that investigators were confident in their findings, as no other suspects were captured on camera leaving the scene. DNA samples from the men have been sent for testing.

Police checked security camera footage and found no other suspects but Dadasaheb and Balasaheb leaving the scene early in the morning. They were taken for questioning that evening and released later. Both men initially denied the allegations and said they could not remember the events. However, one of the suspects later confessed to the charge.

According to Pol Col Apichart Chansamret, chief of Koh Pha Ngan police station, Dadasaheb confessed, while Balasaheb has denied it and claimed he did not rape the woman but only hugged and kissed her on the cheek though she resisted. The suspects have been charged with 'rape by forcibly abusing a victim in a defenceless situation.' The offence carries a jail term of 4-20 years and a fine up to 400,000 baht (₹10,33 lakh).