Interpol arrests Italian in Spain on Pattaya child sex charge

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BANGKOK, Sept 19 – Interpol, with the cooperation of the Spanish and Thai authorities, arrested an Italian national in connection with child sexual abuse at a Thai tourist resort, Thai police said.

Italian David Costa Ruggero, 66, was apprehended by Interpol in Spain and deported to Thailand for trial.

Mr Ruggero was charged with molesting girls under 15 years of age and paying Bt500 to buy sex with a 10-year-old girl from a pimp in Pattaya in 2007.

The local procurer, a native of the northeastern province of Roi Et, was arrested and sentenced to eight years jail. Mr Ruggero fled Thailand for Spain in late 2008.

Mr Ruggero denied charges of child sexual abuse but admitted that he bought sex with women several times in Pattaya.

Police said warrants were issued for him in two separate cases which involve molesting a boy in 2008 and a girl in 2009. (MCOT online news)