Thitima Noraphanpiphat death: Thai models at ‘high risk from sexual predators’

Women such as Thitima are called ‘pretties’: models hired for events such as auto shows to pose seductively with products they are promoting

Male model Ratchadech Wongtabut has been charged over Thitima’s death, after her body was found in the lobby of his apartment building

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Published: 9:08am, 27 Sep 2019Updated: 10:17am, 27 Sep 2019

Concern over the sexual abuse of models hired to attend private parties in Thailand increased Thursday with new accusations of wrongdoing following the widely reported death of a partygoer.

Arrest warrants were issued for six men and women on charges of criminal association and molestation after a model filed a complaint that she was forced to drink until she passed out at a September 16 party and woke up in a bedroom without any clothes on.

Five suspects surrendered but one was still at large, a police officer in Bangkok’s Bang Bua Thong district said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to release information.

The woman who filed the complaint, identified by the nickname “Dear”, said she had attended the same party from which another hired model, Thitima Noraphanpiphat, was carried unconscious to the flat of male model Ratchadech Wongtabut, who later left her body in his building’s lobby, where she was found dead, police said.

Ratchadech was arrested on Wednesday on charges of illegal detention leading to death, abduction with intent of committing an indecent act and molestation, which he denies.

Ratchadech Wongtabut was arrested Wednesday on charges of illegal detention leading to death, abduction with intent of committing an indecent act and molestation, which he denies. Photo: AP

Police said Wednesday that an autopsy found that Thitima – also known as “Lunlabelle” – had died from extreme alcohol intoxication. Her parents have challenged the finding, and appealed Thursday to the Justice Ministry for further investigation.

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