Australian arrested in Thailand after teenage girl's body found in suitcase

Thai police have arrested an Australian man in connection with the discovery of a teenage girl's body found inside a suitcase. Simon Carman, 45, from Victoria, was apprehended at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport on Friday night. He is being questioned on suspicion of murder.

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We believe he killed her, and he is being questioned on suspicion of murder.

Authorities allege Carman picked up 17-year-old Tunchanok Donhomla from Pattaya's Beach Road vice strip early Thursday morning. Her friends reported her missing Friday afternoon after losing contact. Police traced her last known movements to a hotel room she had entered with Carman.

Ms. Donhomla's naked body was discovered in a black suitcase near a railway line, approximately a ten-minute drive from Carman's hotel. Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyu, Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, stated that Carman was initially charged with "taking a minor for the purpose of committing an indecent act." He added, "We believe he killed her, and he is being questioned on suspicion of murder."

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He has fingernail scratches across his body that are consistent with a struggle, but he denies killing her.

Officers noted fingernail scratches on Carman's body, consistent with a struggle, though he denies the killing. Carman claims the teenager disappeared from the room while he was asleep. However, security footage reportedly shows Carman leaving the hotel Thursday night with a black suitcase matching the one found with the victim's body. Further surveillance allegedly captured him strapping the suitcase to a motorcycle and riding towards the railway tracks before returning to his hotel.

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He said that she disappeared from the room while I was asleep and unaware of anything.