Two men captured on video sexually assaulting an unconscious woman on Walking Street have been arrested.
Jirapat Krasaesatien, 26, was taken into custody April 21 after the video, shared widely on the Internet, depicted him molesting the defenseless woman in front of a gawking audience April 19.
Ittipon Sumontha, 24, turned himself in after being convinced to do so by his father.
The Thai victim, passed out on the street, was believed to have succumbed to alcohol during Songkran’s “wan lai” finale.
Police said Jirapat admitted he was one of the two men in the video, but tried to justify his rape of the woman by saying he was drunk. He apologized and said he was shocked by his own behavior after seeing the video the next day. He did not turn himself in, however, and was captured while at work in Naklua.
The two men have been charged with conspiracy to rape, sexual abuse, gang rape and public indecency.
Police also are searching for the person who filmed and uploaded the video instead of coming to the helpless woman’s defense. Ittipon claimed the man was a friend of Jirapat, and that Jirapat told the man to video the scene. Police say they now know who he is and expect an arrest soon. He will be charged with violating the Computer Crime Act.
