22/10/07
Interpol Wanted Internet Pedophile Arrest - Christopher Paul NEIL
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INTERPOL
media release |
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Global hunt for suspected child
abuser launched by INTERPOL ends in Thailand
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INTERPOL's Red Notice for NEIL, an international wanted
persons notice. |
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NEIL was arrested in Nakhon Ratchasima, northeast Thailand |
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Picture of Christopher Paul Neil taken by Thai immigration
authorities on 11 October 2007. |
LYON, France –
International co-ordination between police on three continents has led to the
arrest of Christopher Paul NEIL in Thailand just 10 days after INTERPOL launched
a worldwide appeal to identify an unknown man photographed sexually abusing
young boys.
The Royal Thai Police arrested the 32-year-old
Canadian in Nakhon Ratchasima
in the northeast region of the country today, 19 October, just one day after
issuing an arrest warrant and requesting an INTERPOL Red Notice, an international
wanted persons notice.
“I want to commend the Royal Thai Police for the
swift and decisive actions that led to NEIL’s arrest
and those local citizens who helped to identify and locate this suspected
predator in a civil manner,” said INTERPOL’s
Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.
“This is but one example of how co-operation
between INTERPOL, its police partners in 186 member countries and the public
can work together to bring international criminals to justice.
“Today’s arrest sends a clear message to those men
who think they can travel to Southeast Asia to abuse innocent children: there
is no longer any such place as a safe haven for paedophiles;
there is no such thing as anonymity; and there is no escape.”
On October 8, INTERPOL launched its first-ever
global appeal for assistance to identify
an unknown man featured in a series of around 200 photographs in which he was
shown sexually abusing young children. Nearly 400 people worldwide responded,
with five different sources all naming Christopher Paul NEIL as a potential
match.
Police work on the ground quickly established that
NEIL had fled his home in South Korea. He was last seen on 11 October arriving
at Bangkok International Airport in Thailand.
Close co-operation between the Royal Thai Police
and INTERPOL led to the identification of a previously unknown victim who
confirmed to police that he had been abused by NEIL, which enabled Thai
authorities to issue an arrest warrant. NEIL was arrested 24 hours later.
“That NEIL is in Thai police custody just 10 days
after INTERPOL’s appeal to identify a man whose name,
nationality and whereabouts were unknown is an outstanding achievement due to
the co-operation between the police, the public and the media” said Head of INTERPOl’s liaison office in Bangkok, Colonel Panaspong Sirawongse.
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