Police in Nonthaburi have arrested a 31-year-old air conditioner technician accused of committing a lewd act in public after allegedly exposing himself to a former beauty queen during her morning jog.
The suspect, identified as Surasit, was detained by officers from Rattanathibeth Police Station in front of a grocery store along Soi Rattanathibet 22, Intersection 10, in Bang Krasor Subdistrict.
Authorities said the arrest followed a police report lodged on May 6 by Warinthorn Phadungwithi, 49, who claimed she encountered the suspect while jogging with her boyfriend on the morning of May 4 near Soi Nonthaburi 46 heading towards the Sanam Bin Nam intersection.
According to investigators, the man was riding a black Honda Scoopy motorcycle and allegedly stopped by the roadside before exposing himself and performing an obscene act in public.
The former beauty queen reportedly alerted her boyfriend after spotting the suspect. Upon realising she was not alone, the man allegedly fled the scene on his motorcycle.
Police later reviewed CCTV footage from the surrounding area and escape route before identifying the suspect as Surasit. Officers tracked him down and arrested him while he was reportedly on his way to work. The Honda Scoopy motorcycle believed to have been used during the incident was also seized.
During questioning, Surasit allegedly confessed to the act and claimed he became aroused after seeing the woman while his wife was seven months pregnant. He also admitted to carrying out similar acts two or three times previously in Nakhon Sawan province because he “could not control his emotions”.
Further background checks revealed the suspect had previously been arrested in 2023 for allegedly committing an obscene act at a public park in Nakhon Sawan. Police also discovered he had a prior trespassing offence dating back to 2016.
Following the arrest, Surasit was charged with committing an indecent act in public likely to cause embarrassment to others through exposure and obscene behaviour.
He was later handed over to investigating officers and fined 10,000 baht before reportedly contacting relatives to assist with payment of the penalty prior to his release.
