Thai restaurant owner, 62, fatally stabbed by customer, 32, for allegedly failing to prevent sexual assault

A 62-year-old restaurant owner in Thailand's northern province of Kamphaeng Phet was fatally stabbed by her customer on Aug. 20.

Suspect fled the scene after stabbing owner

According to The Thaiger, the customer claimed that the restaurant owner had failed to prevent a sexual assault while she was intoxicated.

The owner, Meena Pattatha, reportedly suffered over 10 stab wounds to her neck, chest and arms, and was rushed to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.

Security camera footage showed the 32-year-old suspect, Jaruwan Jaifai, dining at the restaurant alone, then fleeing the scene on her motorcycle after the attack.

She was tracked to her home and taken into the police station for questioning, which purportedly lasted for more than two hours.

When asked about her motive, Jaruwan initially told reporters,"I haven’t slept all night. I don’t want to say anything. I’m sleepy."

The charges against Jaruwan have not yet been revealed.

Motive for attack

The Thaiger further reported that Jaruwan eventually confessed to her motive for the attack.

On Aug. 18 she went to Meena's restaurant to drink alcohol while dealing with personal problems.

After she became intoxicated, she was led by a male customer out of the restaurant who sexually assaulted her.

Jaruwan added that she was angry Meena had allowed the man to take her outside.

She returned to the restaurant on Aug. 20 to confront Meena about the matter.

The man involved in the Aug. 18 incident was also summoned in for questioning and admitted to engaging in sexual activity with Jaruwan.

However, more details about his statement have not been disclosed to the Thai media by the police.

The Thaiger also reported that an employee said Meena had offered Jaruwan to rest in her son's bedroom and had tried to ask the man to leave her alone. The employee felt that Meena was not responsible for what happened to Jaruwan.

Restaurant owner's 22-year-old son returns home from frontline

Following the death of Meena, her 22-year-old son, Nirat Kongtoom, a soldier stationed at Surin, returned home on 10 days of leave to attend her funeral.

Surin is a disputed border area with Cambodia.

He was seen embracing his elder sister and other relatives in grief after breaking down in front of his mother's coffin.

Speaking to Thai media, he said he received a call from his sister informing him about what had happened and added that he hopes no one else will have to experience such a tragedy.

Nirat said prior to his deployment, he had lived with his mother and he could not imagine life without her.

She had never beaten or scolded him and had always told him to be a good person.

In a Facebook post which he put up with a photo of himself and his mother, he wrote:

"I will never forget all the things you taught me. I have not yet had the chance to enter the monkhood as you wished. You were always a good mother and never hurt me. If the next life exists, I hope we will again be mother and son. Rest in peace, mother."

Top left photo via Nonthawat Wisutthipat/Facebook, right photo via Jack Thekop/Facebook