A 23-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly abusing his 7-year-old stepdaughter, including burning her tongue with a cigarette lighter.
Saran Khampakdee was captured March 9 after the girl’s mother, 28-year-old Arunapa Khampakdee contacted the Paveena Foundation for Children and Women about the abuse. Headed by former Social Development and Human Security Minister Paveena Hongsakula, the foundation had an arrest warrant issued.
Pol. Col. Suwichan Yankithikul, deputy commander of Chonburi Police, and Pol. Col. Chonapat Nawalak, chief of Banglamung Police, inspected the injuries to the girl. Her tongue was swollen and burned from a cigarette lighter and she had scratches and bruises on her ear, face and leg.
Human Security Minister Paveena Hongsakula (2nd right) was able to inspire police to arrest Saran Khampakdee (seated), son of a senior police officer, for physical abuse of his 7-year-old stepdaughter.
Her father, Itichote Srongsri, 32, said Arunapa called him asking for money to take the girl to the hospital. He insisted on seeing both of them and the girl immediately ran to her father, crying that her stepfather of two years routinely beat her.
Arunapa confessed that she knew about the assaults, but said she had been abused too and was scared to go to police as her new husband’s father is a senior police officer. They then resolved to contact the Paveena Foundation.
Police said Saran confessed to abusing the girl, but said he was ashamed of what he did. He claimed he loved the girl like his own blood and was shocked at himself for doing such things. He told police he was willing to take full responsibility for his actions.
