An Australian man has been arrested in Thailand in connection with the alleged murder of a 17-year-old girl whose naked body was found in a suitcase. The 45-year-old was detained at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport on Friday evening while preparing to board a Jetstar flight to Perth.
Police allege CCTV footage shows the suspect entering an apartment in the seaside resort of Pattaya in the early hours of Thursday with the teenager. He emerged several hours later carrying a large black suitcase, which he transported on a motorbike. The suitcase was found on Friday near a railway track, containing the victim's body with signs of violence.
The suspect denies involvement in the abduction and murder. He was taken into custody after an interrogation, a police official said. Investigators are awaiting postmortem results and other evidence before filing charges, which could include child abduction, murder, hiding a corpse, and abduction of a minor for sexual purposes.
Thai immigration officers acted on a watch notice from Pattaya city police to prevent the man from leaving the country. During questioning, the suspect allegedly provided information that led officers to the location of the suitcase. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance.
