A 35-year-old man has been caught by villagers in southern Thailand’s Satun Province for allegedly raping the seven-year-old daughter of a Burmese worker.

The attack happened in Tambon Jebilang in the province’s Muang District on Thursday at about 5 pm when labourers, mostly from Burma, were tending to their jobs at the local shipyard while their children were playing in the area, according to a local witness, Yuwadee Saenmak, 26.

Yuwadee said according to her son, a stranger approached the children and handed out snacks to them. The seven-year-old victim and another three-year-old child were seen following the man.

She said the victim’s father was later seen on a motorcycle looking for his daughter.

The witness said she then spotted a man who appeared intoxicated emerging from a bush near the community.

Yuwadee said upon walking into the bush and finding the victim, bruised and bleeding, she called out for help.

Villagers caught the man and locked him up in a shelter before alerting police, she added.

[related]

Almost 300 villagers gathered around the facility when police arrived, prompting the officers to call in army reinforcements to maintain order. The man was later sent to Khuan Kalong police station.

Police Major Parakorn Janthachot, an inquiry officer with Muang Satun police, said officers would seek court approval for an arrest warrant. The name of the suspect was not disclosed yesterday.

The victim will be sent to hospital.

A local shelter run by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security is providing assistance to the victim.