The American backpacker who was the victim of a sex attack by a man posing as a tour guide in Krabi is preparing to leave Thailand despite that fact that her case has yet to conclude in court, according to police.
Phuket Tourist Police Capt. Ekkachai Siri said yesterday that Hannah Gavios, a 23-year-old from New York, is still recovering from surgery to her spine at Bangkok Hospital Phuket but will be leaving the country on Friday.
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Capt. Ekkachai said, “Ms. Gavios will leave the country on Friday. I have been told by the hospital. She is now a lot better than she was last week, but her main problem is the pain she is suffering to her lower back following the surgery.”
“She cannot move around on her own just yet because she also has pain to her legs. Doctors have confirmed that she is not paralyzed but that it will take time for her to heal,” he said.
On Sept. 1, Gavios was attacked by Apai Raingworchai, 28, a man who offered to walk her back to the hotel through the woods in Railay. She fell 45 meters off the cliff in an attempt to escape him, she told Daily Mail.
After the fall, Gavios said Apai caught up with her and climbed down the mountain. He sexually assaulted her, but did not rape her.
Gavios visited Thailand on a holiday, taking a break from teaching English in Vietnam.
READ: 45-meter fall, sexually assaulted backpacker Hannah Gavios shares story from hospital bed
Krabi police were hoping that Gavios would give testimony to Phuket Provincial Court this week to help move the case to trial quickly despite doctors saying she would need at least 10 more days to recover in hospital.
However, Capt. Ekkachai confirmed that Gavios was unable to give testimony in court, but court officials did take her statement from the hospital.
“The trail for this case has yet to be concluded. I do not know how many years in jail the suspect will face,” he said.
Story: The Phuket News
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