Five years of reported stalking drives actress Chatchaya “Neen” Samroengraj back to police. She says a former officer sent sexual messages, followed her to work and repeatedly entered her home, with the latest nighttime intrusion caught on CCTV again.
Thai actress Chatchaya “Neen” Samroengraj has turned to police after five years of reported sexual harassment and stalking by a former officer. She says the 35-year-old followed her, entered her Bangkok home and evaded estate security using disguises and ride-hailing cars. The case reached a new level on August 11 when CCTV captured a nighttime intrusion. After three previous approaches to police and a January trespassing complaint, Ms Chatchaya is now demanding full legal action. Lawyer Sirikwan Nilkarn and Dr Panadda Wongphudee have joined the case, while Bueng Kum police gather evidence for further proceedings.
Thai actress and influencer Chatchaya “Neen” Samroengraj went to police Thursday after five years of reported harassment. She accused a 35-year-old former police officer of sexual harassment, stalking and repeatedly entering her Bangkok home. The latest incident came at night on August 11. Notably, CCTV cameras clearly captured the man entering the property.
Ms Chatchaya arrived at Bueng Kum Police Station at 2 pm on August 13. Lawyer Sirikwan Nilkarn accompanied her to pursue legal action over the reported conduct. Dr Panadda Wongphudee, president of the Good Deeds Foundation, assigned the lawyer to assist her. There, they met investigating officer Pol Lt Col Viroj Suchart and presented details of the case.
The complaint names a former police officer identified as Chatchawal, also known as Phumithat. He is 35 years old. According to Ms Chatchaya, the unwanted attention began in 2021 and never stopped. Initially, the man appeared in her social media inbox claiming to be a fan.
Sexual messages turn into home visits as actress says former officer followed her movements for years
However, Ms Chatchaya said his messages soon became flirtatious and increasingly sexual. She described them as bordering on sexual harassment. Then the unwanted attention moved from her inbox to her home. The actress said the man began appearing at her housing estate in Bangkok’s Bueng Kum area.
More seriously, she accused him of entering her property without permission. He would come looking for her despite never having personally met her. Instead, he sometimes encountered her family. Her father and brother were among those confronted by the unexpected visitor.
Even so, the man continued asking for Ms Chatchaya during the visits. The actress said his attention also extended far beyond her home. In parallel, she accused him of monitoring her movements and following her elsewhere.
In particular, Ms Chatchaya said the man followed her to her yoghurt shop. She operates the shop as her private business. She said the harassment occurred almost every day. As the incidents mounted, she became increasingly frightened by his repeated appearances.
Actress says five years of harassment caused panic attacks before nighttime entry was caught on CCTV
The actress said she could no longer live her daily life normally. Eventually, she began suffering panic attacks. Yet Thursday’s visit to Bueng Kum Police Station was far from her first approach to police.
Ms Chatchaya said she had already met police three times concerning the man’s behaviour. On those occasions, she described the incidents and filed reports as evidence. Separately, she lodged a trespassing complaint on January 15. Despite those previous reports, she said the unwanted approaches continued.
The situation escalated again on August 11. That night, Ms Chatchaya said the former officer once more entered her home. Crucially, the property’s CCTV system recorded the latest incident. The footage provided evidence of what she described as another unauthorised entry.
In response, Ms Chatchaya returned to police two days later and decided to push the case further. She made clear that another simple record of the incident would not be enough.
“This time, I want to pursue the case to the fullest extent of the law,” Ms Chatchaya said.
Security measures failed as former officer allegedly used disguises and ride-hailing cars to enter estate
The actress had already attempted to shut the man out of her housing estate. Previously, she supplied security guards with his photograph and instructed them to prevent his entry. However, she said he repeatedly found ways around those precautions.
“Regarding the reason why the man was able to enter the house, even though I had given his photo to the security guard to prevent him from entering, the man would disguise himself to deceive the village security guards. For example, he would pose as a delivery rider, hire a ride through an app, or drive his own car and claim that he wasn’t coming to that house number after the incident,” Ms Chatchaya stated.
According to her account, the methods changed depending on how he entered the development. At times, she said he posed as a delivery rider. On other occasions, he hired a vehicle through a ride-hailing application.
Alternatively, Ms Chatchaya said he drove his own car into the estate. When questioned, he would claim that her house was not his destination. As a result, the security measures failed to prevent further reported visits.
Lawyer points to new sexual harassment provisions as foundation moves to support actress in police case
On another front, lawyer Sirikwan Nilkarn investigated the background of the man named in the complaint. She said a search using his Facebook account indicated that he was formerly a police officer. However, the reason for his departure from the force remained unknown.
Ms Sirikwan also highlighted recently introduced legal provisions concerning sexual harassment. Previously, she said there was no law protecting against this particular type of offence. She said the new sexual harassment legislation now includes such conduct.
As part of this, the foundation quickly arranged legal assistance for Ms Chatchaya. Ms Sirikwan accompanied her to Bueng Kum Police Station to seek prosecution. The lawyer said the case could also serve as an example and warn the public.
Meanwhile, Dr Panadda Wongphudee pledged to continue supporting the legal case. She said she did not want matters ending after Ms Chatchaya simply filed another police report. Instead, she volunteered to help push the proceedings forward.
Dr Panadda also raised the possibility that the man could suffer from a mental illness. She specifically referred to schizophrenia while discussing his reported behaviour.
Panadda calls for treatment if needed as actress and family prepare to pursue legal case to the fullest
If he had such a condition, she said his family should take him for treatment. She said he should not instead be allowed to harass other people. No medical diagnosis involving the former officer was supplied with the case information.
Following the foundation’s intervention, Dr Panadda said Ms Chatchaya was feeling more relieved. Furthermore, the actress’s brother will discuss the case with Dr Panadda and the prosecutor’s team.
“If a case comes into my hands, I will pursue it to the fullest extent,” Dr Panadda said.
She then pointed directly to the legal changes concerning this form of conduct.
“If we have changed the law in this area, we must make sure that it is enforced,” Dr Panadda said.
Actress’s television career and business form backdrop as police gather evidence in five-year complaint
Beyond her work as an influencer, Ms Chatchaya has appeared in several Thai television productions. Her credits include Lai Kinaree, Sat Suea, Pritsana Pom Mai and Duangta Sawan. She has mostly performed supporting roles. Additionally, she runs the yoghurt business where she said the man followed her.
The police complaint now brings together five years of reported incidents stretching back to 2021. It also follows three previous approaches to police and the January 15 trespassing complaint. Most importantly, the August 11 incident was captured by CCTV at her home.
Thai woman’s Italian job ends with criminal fines, apologies and agreement to remove viral BTS footage
Netflix hit show ‘The Evil Lawyer’ shows audiences the dark side of Thai law except it’s even darker in real life
Pol Lt Col Viroj confirmed that Bueng Kum Police Station had formally received the latest complaint. Investigators are gathering evidence concerning the reported sexual harassment and trespassing.
Next, police will present the collected material to senior officers. Further legal proceedings will then be considered as investigators examine the evidence.
Join the Thai News forum, follow Thai Examiner on Facebook here
Receive all our stories as they come out on Telegram here
Follow Thai Examiner here
Further reading:
Crackdown on expats working illegally deepens. Italian on Koh Phangan is arrested for woodwork
Crackdown aimed at upending foreign business trade moves from Koh Phangan to Phuket. Four arrested
Crackdown to wipe out foreign business abuses and ownership on Koh Phangan & Koh Samui intensifies
Arrogant Lebanese man held on Koh Phangan for illegal bike rental racket after being deported before
