Caught On Camera: Australian Man Arrested in Thailand After 17-Year-Old Girl Found Dead Inside Suitcase

BANGKOK, June 27: A 46-year-old Australian man has been arrested at a Bangkok airport in connection with the alleged murder of a 17-year-old Thai girl whose body was discovered inside a suitcase in the coastal city of Pattaya.

Thai police said the suspect was detained at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Friday night while preparing to board a Jetstar flight to Perth. Immigration officers stopped him after investigators requested a watch notice as they examined his alleged connection to the teenager’s death.

Police said the victim’s body was found inside a suitcase near the Floating Market area of Pattaya, close to a railway track. Authorities said the body showed signs of violence and that investigations were underway to determine the full circumstances surrounding the teenager’s death.

According to police reports, CCTV footage allegedly showed the suspect entering an apartment in Pattaya with the teenager in the early hours of Thursday. Investigators said footage later showed him leaving the building carrying a large suitcase, which was transported on a motorbike.

The suspect has denied involvement in the alleged abduction and murder. Police said they are awaiting postmortem results and additional evidence before formally proceeding with further charges, which could include murder, concealing a body, child abduction, and other related offences.

Authorities said the suspect provided information during questioning that helped investigators locate the suitcase. Pattaya police later confirmed the discovery of the victim’s body based on details obtained during the investigation.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that it is providing consular assistance to an Australian detained in Thailand but said it could not provide further details due to privacy obligations.

The investigation remains ongoing as Thai authorities continue gathering evidence in the high-profile case.