Christopher Ronald White, 47, was arrested in Bangkok and faces 20 years in jail
if found guilty, said a police spokesman in the main northern city of Chiang
Mai where the case is being handled.
He said White denied all the charges, and claimed he was a former policeman who
was working in Bangkok as an advisor to the Australian Protective Services, an
arm of the Australian Federal Police.
The Thai police official said the girl, who is now aged 16, told police that
she met White in Chiang Mai three years ago when she was selling flower
garlands in the city's famous night market.
The girl, from the Akha ethnic minority, said White lured her to Bangkok,
promising to pay for her education and eventually adopt her, but instead began
a sexual relationship with her.
"When we searched his house in Bangkok we found evidence that confirmed the
girl was molested," the official said, adding that Thai police had worked with
Australian authorities who had searched his home in Perth.
He said that after going through the Thai justice system, White would be
extradited to Australia to face other pedophile charges there. The police
officer said the girl ran away from White after he began beating her, and
sought sanctuary with an aid agency.
The Australian embassy in Bangkok confirmed that the two police forces were
working together on the case, but declined to comment on White's claims to be
working for the Australian Protective Services.
A spokesman confirmed that a West Australian man "was arrested on August 23 in
Thailand in relation to sexual acts with a female under 13 years".
"The Australian government takes very seriously any matter relating to child
sex offences," he said.
"We have provided consular assistance to the man in question, which includes
advice regarding access to legal representation, and we will follow the legal
processes closely to ensure fairness of conduct in accordance with local
practice."
AFP
