Australian Simon Carman arrested after body of teenage girl found in suitcase in Thailand

An Australian man, Simon Carman, 45, has been arrested in Thailand in connection with the discovery of the body of a 17-year-old girl found inside a suitcase.

Police say the girl, identified as Tunchanok Donhomla, was picked up by Carman from the Beach Road vice strip in Pattaya in the early hours of Thursday morning. Her friends reported her missing on Friday afternoon after they did not hear from her.

Investigators retraced her last known movements to a hotel room she entered with Carman. Her body was later found naked in a black suitcase alongside a railway line, about 10 minutes’ drive from the hotel where Carman had been staying.

Carman was arrested on Friday evening at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok. Police allege he was involved in taking a minor for indecent purposes, and authorities have also charged him with offences including murder and burying, concealing, moving, or destroying a body to hide the cause of death.

Pattaya police say the murder charge carries the death penalty or life in prison. Carman has denied killing the girl, and officers allege evidence including scratches consistent with a struggle.

Authorities also pointed to surveillance footage they say showed Carman leaving the hotel at about 9:34pm Thursday with a suitcase matching the one containing the body. Police allege the footage shows him riding away with the suitcase strapped to a motorcycle and returning later to the hotel.

Thailand’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it is providing consular assistance to the Australian in detention.