DNA tests have identified three men arrested for raping two Russian women on Christmas Day, police say.
A policeman takes three men suspected of raping two Russian women in Pattaya on Dec 25 before the media at the Royal Thai Police Office yesterday. SOMCHAI POOMLARD
Samples of semen and pubic hair found on the clothes of two Russian women raped in Pattaya beach town matched the DNA of three Thai men who were caught on Monday, officers said.
The two Russian women alerted Pattaya police after they were raped by three men on board a Toyota pickup truck in tambon Nong Phreu of Bang Lamung district in Chon Buri about 4am on Dec 25.
The rapists made off with the victims' mobile phones and other valuables.
The attack prompted national police chief Adul Saengsingkaew to order a manhunt for the suspects, who were subsequently caught on Monday.
The three men were identified as Wichian Jaija, 35, a native of Chon Buri; Thongchai Chandee, 20; and Anuwat Wat-on, 32, both from Phitsanulok.
Police seized from them a gun, three bullets, a knife, a mobile phone which they say belonged to one of the two victims, a handbag, the Toyota pickup truck in which the rape allegedly took place, banknotes and other stolen items.
Forensic experts collected samples of semen and pubic hair from the clothes and bodies of the two victims for DNA tests.
The results showed the DNA samples match with those of the three men, police said. Inquiries are continuing.