Pattaya, June 8, 2025 – A 44-year-old French national was arrested in Pattaya on Sunday afternoon for the alleged sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in Nong Khai. The suspect, identified only as Mr. A., was apprehended at a Sukhumvit-area condominium following a joint operation between Nong Khai Provincial Police and Pattaya Immigration Police.

Illegal French tour guide arrested in Phuket sting operation

The arrest warrant, issued by the Nong Khai Provincial Court, charged Mr. A. with abducting a minor under 15 and sexually assaulting the victim, regardless of consent. The case came to light after Nong Khai authorities, working with social services, rescued the girl, who had reportedly been lured and forced into prostitution while visiting her mother, a beer bar employee in Nong Khai.

Thai police apprehended a French national in #Pattaya, accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.https://t.co/Y1t29AkW5b

— ThaiMythbuster (@thaimythbuster) June 9, 2025

Investigators allege Mr. A. took the victim to a Nong Khai hotel, where the assault occurred. After the girl’s guardians filed a report, police traced the suspect to Pattaya. During the arrest, Mr. A. denied the charges, declaring his innocence and vowing to contest the case in court. He was taken to Banglamung Police Station for processing before being transferred to Nong Khai for further legal proceedings.

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Authorities suspect the involvement of a broader trafficking ring and are expanding their investigation to identify additional perpetrators. The case underscores ongoing concerns about child exploitation in Thailand’s tourist hubs.

-Thailand News (TN)