Phuket van driver, 43, arrested for allegedly raping Ukrainian tourist

A 43-year-old van driver was arrested in Phuket, Thailand for allegedly raping a holidaying woman from Ukraine, reported the Bangkok Post.

The woman complained to the police at 5:30am on Monday, Apr. 6 that she had asked the driver to share his internet connection so she could reach her friend, but he allegedly raped her.

The suspect allegedly admitted to raping the woman at the entrance to a housing estate on Chaloem Phrakiat Road in Rassada between 2am and 3am, after she approached him.

Police said the man, identified only as Sukan, was arrested at a snooker club in the township of Rassada of Muang district at about 5pm on the day they received the woman's report.

The man allegedly confessed when questioned.

He said he had forced a Ukrainian woman into his van and raped her before taking her back to her accommodation in the township of Kamala of Kathu district.

The woman said she had booked for a motorcyclist to pick her up at a hotel on Sri Soonthorn Road in Thalang district via a ride-hailing app, as she wanted to go to the Muang district to meet a friend.

But the woman was unable to find her friend.

She had no internet connection and asked the van driver to share it with her.

Top photo via Thailand police