This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7052065.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Thais arrest paedophile suspect Thais arrest paedophile suspect
(about 1 hour later)
A Canadian paedophile suspect who sparked a global manhunt has been arrested in Thailand, police say. A Canadian paedophile suspect who sparked a global manhunt has been arrested in Thailand.
Christopher Paul Neil, a 32-year-old teacher, was held in the north-east of the country, suspected of abusing boys in 200 online images. Christopher Paul Neil, a 32-year-old teacher, was detained in the north-east of the country, suspected of abusing boys in 200 online images.
Interpol had appealed for help after experts unscrambled digitally-swirled internet photos of the suspect. Interpol had appealed for help after experts unscrambled digitally-distorted internet photos of the suspect.
He arrived in Thailand last week from South Korea, where he had been working as an English teacher.He arrived in Thailand last week from South Korea, where he had been working as an English teacher.
International police agency Interpol sparked a worldwide manhunt when they launched their first global appeal to the public for information on the suspected paedophile.
UNFOLDING INVESTIGATION Dec 2004: Abuse photos, some date-stamped 2002 or 2003, found on internet8 Oct 2007: Interpol's global appeal for information9 Oct: Interpol says more than 200 responses received11 Oct: Suspect flies into Bangkok on one-way ticket19 Oct: Suspect arrested in north-east ThailandUNFOLDING INVESTIGATION Dec 2004: Abuse photos, some date-stamped 2002 or 2003, found on internet8 Oct 2007: Interpol's global appeal for information9 Oct: Interpol says more than 200 responses received11 Oct: Suspect flies into Bangkok on one-way ticket19 Oct: Suspect arrested in north-east Thailand
Police across Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam had been searching for Mr Neil since he arrived in the region. The Thai courts issued an arrest warrant on Thursday after a 17-year-old Thai youth told the authorities the suspect had sexually molested him several years ago.
"My officers arrested him in the countryside in Nakhon Ratchasima this morning," tourist police chief Chuchart Suwannakom told Reuters news agency. Mr Neil was picked up by officers on Friday morning in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, 250 km (150 miles) north-east of the capital, Bangkok.
Nakhon Ratchasima is around 250 km (150 miles) north-east of the Thai capital, Bangkok. He was later taken to a Bangkok police station for questioning.
Police said he would be returned to Bangkok later in the day for questioning. "The fact that we went to the public was the breakthrough," Interpol detective Mick Moran told AFP news agency.
"We are absolutely delighted that this guy has been arrested."
The arrest follows lengthy efforts to identify a man seen in more than 200 online images of alleged sexual abuse involving young boys.The arrest follows lengthy efforts to identify a man seen in more than 200 online images of alleged sexual abuse involving young boys.
The man's face had been digitally scrambled, but the international police agency Interpol used software to create a usable image of their suspect. The man's face had been digitally scrambled, but Interpol used software to create a usable image of their suspect.
They then launched their first-ever global appeal to the public for information that would help them identify the man.
Earlier this week, Mr Neil was named as a suspect. Footage from a security camera at Bangkok airport recorded his entry into Thailand on 11 October.Earlier this week, Mr Neil was named as a suspect. Footage from a security camera at Bangkok airport recorded his entry into Thailand on 11 October.
Police had been searching for him since. Officers believe he might have abused boys in Thailand as well as in Vietnam and Cambodia.
He could face charges in any of those three countries and could also be extradited to Canada, which has laws allowing for the prosecution of its nationals for child-sex crimes committed abroad.
Mr Neil, from British Columbia, has been teaching at schools in Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam since 2000.Mr Neil, from British Columbia, has been teaching at schools in Thailand, South Korea and Vietnam since 2000.