Police have claimed that Simon Peter Carman, the Australian man who has been charged with the murder of 17-year-old Thai teenager Tunchanok Donhomla, argued over money before her death.
On Friday, at around 9.30pm local time, the 45-year-old Australian was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport, where he was allegedly attempting to board a flight to Perth.
According to ABC News, shortly after the arrest, local police found a suitcase near railway tracks, containing a body that has since been identified as Tunchanok Donholma.
Carman has since been charged with four offences, including murder, concealment of a body, moving or destroying a body and taking a minor aged between 15 and 18 for sexual purposes.
Speaking to the publication, local police said Carman has denied all the charges and claimed the teenager “disappeared from the room while I was asleep”.
Prior to the teenager’s death, CCTV captured Donhomla and Carman holding hands while walking through his hotel lobby in Pattaya at around 3.30am local time on Thursday.
Later that night, at around 9.30pm, Carman was captured on CCTV leaving the hotel with a black suitcase, before loading it onto a scooter and driving to a railway line, located 10 minutes from the hotel.
Police say Simon Peter Carman and 17 Y.O. Tunchanok Donhomla argued about money before her death
According to local Thai media outlet, The Nation, Carman claimed he didn’t know the teen prior to meeting Pattaya, and that they agreed on paying her 1,000 baht (AUD$43). However, an argument broke out when he offered 500 baht (AUD$21.72) instead.
Police confirmed to ABC News that the pair had argued about money, but didn’t provide any further details.
“She had no chance to speak,” Police Colonel Anek Srathongyoo, Superintendent of the Pattaya City Police Station, said.
“The guy can say anything; we cannot prove it.”
In a video message that was recorded while he was in custody, Carman told Tunchanok’s family that her death was “out of my control”.
“I feel bad for what happened to your daughter,” the video began.
“It was out of my control. I hope you — I know you’ll be very bad. Upset. Same same me. It shouldn’t happen, and I hope you’re OK.”
@9news An Australian man could face the death penalty in Thailand, after he was arrested on suspicion of murder over the death of a 17-year-old girl. #9News
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Carman went on to say, “Please tell other girls to be not, just to be careful,” before declaring that he doesn’t want to talk.
Carman is reportedly in detention in Pattaya Prison, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed that it was aware of the arrest and is providing consular assistance to the detained Australian in Thailand.
A court date will not be announced until police have finished investigations, in which they have 84 days to do so.
Murder can carry the death penalty or life in prison in Thailand.
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