Pattaya News – Chonburi Police Arrest Excavator Driver for Alleged Rape of Prachinburi Woman in Abandoned House

Pattaya-

Police in Chonburi province have arrested a 39-year-old excavator operator suspected of raping a 26-year-old woman from Prachinburi province after luring her into an abandoned house along Highway 331 in Huai Yai as we previously reported here.

The incident occurred in the evening of February 1st, 2026. The victim was riding her motorcycle from Prachinburi to Pattaya to apply for a job as a traditional Thai massage therapist in the Jomtien area. According to her account, a Thai man, described as dark-skinned and bald, pulled up alongside her on a motorcycle, reached over to turn off her ignition by twisting the key, and forced her to stop. He then dragged her into a nearby abandoned house close to the Shrine of Mother Sakorn, pinned her down on a wooden platform, and assaulted her.

During the attack, the woman seized a moment when the suspect was distracted, escaped naked and in extreme distress, and ran out onto the road shouting for help: “Help! I’ve been raped!” Passersby stopped immediately, assisted her, and alerted police.

After receiving aid and medical attention, the victim filed a formal complaint at Huai Yai Police Station.

Pol. Col. Phasakorn Phaichit, commander of the Chonburi Provincial Police Investigation Unit, ordered a joint operation between provincial investigators and Huai Yai Police to track down the suspect.

Investigators reviewed CCTV footage from Highway 331 (Phanom Sarakham–Chachoengsao to Sattahip route). Images showed a suspicious man on a motorcycle tailing the victim’s bike starting from Nong Prue intersection in Ban Bueng district, following her for nearly 50 kilometers until the attack site in Huai Yai. This strengthened suspicion that the rider was involved.

Further CCTV checks along Highway 331 and local roads in Huai Yai identified the suspect’s vehicle as a blue Honda PCX motorcycle with Chonburi license plate 7 ขธ 9649. The victim positively identified the owner from a photo as the assailant.

Armed with sufficient evidence, police obtained an arrest warrant (No. 80/2569) from Pattaya Provincial Court for charges including rape by threat, violence, or while the victim was unable to resist.

At around 6:30 p.m. on a subsequent date, a team led by Pol. Lt. Col. Sarawut Hemphira from the Provincial Investigation Unit, along with Huai Yai investigators, executed the warrant and arrested Mr. Somchit Deelay (alias “Nong”), 39, originally from Nakhon Ratchasima province, while he was operating an excavator (backhoe or “macro”) at a construction site in Ban Bueng.

Upon seeing the officers, the suspect reportedly became visibly shaken, admitted to the crime, and led police to recover the motorcycle he had hidden near the construction site.

In his initial statement, Mr. Somchit claimed he left work in Ban Bueng heading to his accommodation in Pattaya when he encountered the victim at Nong Prue intersection and followed her for about 50 km. He said he intended only to rob her, forced her to stop and enter the abandoned house, but she claimed she had no money or valuables as she was job-hunting. He alleged she then offered to have sex with him, leading to what he claimed were consensual acts until she suddenly fled, leaving him confused before he escaped on his motorcycle.

Police have expressed skepticism about his version, noting inconsistencies with the victim’s testimony. They believe the prolonged tailing over nearly 50 km indicates premeditation rather than a spontaneous robbery attempt and strongly doubt the victim agreed to consensual sex acts with a stranger who forced her off her bike.

The suspect has been transferred to Huai Yai Police Station for further interrogation, expanded investigation, and legal proceedings. Authorities continue to gather evidence in the case.