A young girl missing from her home in a remote village has been found safe in a hut where she was abandoned by her abductor as a sacrifice to the spirits of the forest and mountains.
Rescuers found 23-month-old Phonsiri “Nong Gina” Wongsilarung on Wednesday morning, about three kilometres from her home, Thai media reports said.
They were led to the cave by a man who confessed on Wednesday morning that he had kidnapped her on Sunday night.
Pacific news agency also reported that Nong Gina’s mother had confirmed she was found alive and safe in an abandoned hut in a banana plantation.
Provincial police chief Pol Maj Gen Pichet Jiranantasin said earlier on Wednesday the man had given directions and was accompanying rescuers on their way to the cave. They hoped to find the girl alive. he said.
The girl’s disappearance from her home in Ban Huay Fak Dap in tambon Inthanin of Mae Taeng district sparked a huge search.
The suspect was identified only as Siew, 44, a Myanmar national and friend of the girl’s father, Suriya Wongsilaruang. He had been detained for questioning as a prime suspect.
Pol Maj Gen Pichet said Mr Siew confessed he took the girl from the village and abandoned her in front of a cave about three kilometres from the village, as a sacrifice to the spirits of the forest and mountains.
Mr Siew had confessed on Wednesday morning after two days of intense interrogation during which he had been evasive about giving information, Pol Maj Gen Pichet said.
Mr Siew insisted he had not killed the girl. He said he left her in front of the cave and returned to the village.
Pol Maj Gen Pichet said rescuers were aking Mr Siew witrh them to the cave where he said he abandoned “Nong Gina”, hoping the girl was still alive and safe.
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