An Australian man accused of murdering a 17-year-old Thai girl has been transferred to the hospital wing of Pattaya Remand Prison for protective custody.
Simon Carman, 45, from Perth, is alleged to have strangled Tunchanok Donhomla before placing her body in a suitcase and abandoning it near railway tracks. He was arrested at Bangkok's main international airport on Friday, with authorities stating he appeared to be preparing to flee the country on a flight back to Australia.
Prison officials reported that Carman has displayed no emotion since his arrest, showing neither tears nor sadness for himself or the alleged victim. His family has not visited him, and no ex-pats or friends have come forward to see him.
Carman was moved to the prison's hospital wing on Tuesday for safety reasons, away from the general inmate population. A jail commander stated he is housed in a ward with approximately five other men, noting that while he is not ill, this is standard procedure for prisoners deemed "hard" to ensure their safety. The commander indicated that Carman is not considered a threat to other inmates but that his well-being could be compromised if placed in general confinement.
The daily routine at Pattaya Remand Centre begins with a 5:30 a.m. wake-up, followed by cell cleaning and a basic breakfast. An 8 a.m. assembly often includes the national anthem. Visitors are permitted from Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., with time slots potentially as short as 10 minutes. Carman will not be permitted visitors for the next ten days. Visitors must present identification to prove family ties, or the inmate must submit names for verification, but no requests for visits have been made by Carman or his family.
If found guilty of the murder, Carman could face life imprisonment or the death penalty. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to Carman.