Thai police have charged an Australian man with murder and concealment of a body in connection with the death of a 17-year-old girl in the eastern tourist city of Pattaya. The victim was reported missing on Friday.
Authorities said the girl was last seen on security footage entering a condominium with the suspect, identified as Simon Peter Carman, in Pattaya, located about 150 kilometers (93 miles) east of Bangkok. Carman was later observed leaving the building alone with a large suitcase. Security footage reportedly showed him loading the suitcase onto a motorbike and riding towards a deserted area along the railway.
Carman was arrested early Saturday at a Bangkok airport as he was attempting to board a flight to Perth, Australia. He was initially charged with raping a minor. Shortly after his arrest, police discovered the suitcase containing the girl's body, leading to the additional murder and concealment charges. The charge of premeditated murder carries a possible death penalty.
Carman has denied all charges and is in custody. A Pattaya Police investigator handling the case confirmed that he has been provided with an attorney and it is unclear when he will appear in court.
Security footage shared by Thai media reportedly shows Carman and the girl entering an elevator early Thursday morning, and Carman leaving alone later that night with a dark-colored suitcase. In a video clip of his questioning by police, Carman stated, "I was holding her down because she got crazy." He also claimed the girl threatened him with a knife while he was trying to give her 500 baht (approximately $15).