Thailand arrests Australian suspect after teen’s body found in suitcase

Authorities in Thailand announced on Saturday that an Australian man had been arrested following the discovery of a 17‑year‑old girl's body in a suitcase.

The suspect, who denies any role in the alleged abduction and murder of the teenager, was taken into custody after an interrogation, a police official in Pattaya said.

Investigators were awaiting the post‑mortem results and other evidence before filing charges, the official added.

The official, speaking anonymously, said the charges could encompass child abduction, murder, concealment of a corpse, and abduction of a minor for sexual purposes.

Media reports indicated that the 46‑year‑old suspect was apprehended on Friday at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport while attempting to buy a ticket to Perth, Australia.

According to reports, CCTV footage captured the suspect entering a condominium in Pattaya, a seaside resort, in the early hours of Thursday together with the 17‑year‑old Thai girl.

He left the building several hours later, carrying a large black suitcase that he later transported on a motorbike, the reports said.

Police located the suitcase on Friday near a railway track and found the victim’s body inside, showing signs of violence, Pattaya News reported.

Last month, Thailand sharply reduced the duration of visa‑free stays for tourists after a series of high‑profile arrests of foreigners on charges of drug offences, sex trafficking, and operating unlicensed businesses.