Lampang: Lampang police arrested a 43-year-old stepfather for abusing his 11-year-old stepdaughter while her mother was working at the market. He faces two charges.

According to Thai News Agency, the incident occurred in Ngao District, Lampang Province on May 9. Ms. Nisarat, the village head, escorted the injured girl to file a complaint at Ngao Police Station against her stepfather, Mr. Long. The girl reportedly refused to return home, expressing distress and revealing the abuse to Nisarat, who promptly took action.

Nisarat disclosed that the girl was hesitant to return home after coming to play in the neighborhood, and she confided in Nisarat about the abuse suffered when her mother was away at the market. On May 10, police located and arrested Mr. Long, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs. He admitted to using methamphetamine the previous day and was taken into custody as authorities awaited the results of the girl’s physical examination.

The child had previously refrained from informing her mother due to her mother’s busy schedule as a merchant. However, the situation became unbearable for the child, leading her to speak out. The girl’s mother, upon learning about the abuse on May 9, filed a police report, expressing her shock and readiness to support her daughter.

On May 12, test results confirmed the abuse, prompting police to file charges of rape of a child under 15 years old and use of Category 1 narcotics against Mr. Long. Initially, he claimed only to have hugged the child but eventually confessed due to the evidence presented.