Uzbek tourist, 18, hides in pond to 'flee to men trying to attack her' in Thailand

An Uzbek tourist jumped into a pond allegedly to escape a man attacking her in Thailand.

Sitora Sanjarovna Murodova, 18, plunged into the water and began screaming for help while fleeing from an alleged assailant near a military area near Pattaya in Chonburi province on August 1.

Private First Class Piyapong Yodmanee, 21, who was on duty at the time, heard the teenager's calls for help and rushed over to pull her out of the pond.

She was reportedly in a state of panic, with several bruises across her body.

Police Colonel Thanapon Klinkesorn, superintendent of the Sattahip Police Station, said: 'I have ordered the investigation team to go to the area to gather information and review CCTV footage to investigate the incident and track down the two suspects, according to the woman's testimony.'

Sitora, speaking through an interpreter, claimed she had been walking along Sukhumvit Road when two men of unknown nationalities allegedly assaulted her. She ran toward the Royal Thai Navy Ordnance Department's Sufficient Family Agriculture Garden and jumped into the pond to shake off her pursuers.

The young woman was reported to have entered Thailand on June 19, on a 60-day visa set to expire on August 17. She was taken to the Sattahip Km. 10 Hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, an onlooker, Prasan Chaemthong, 45, claimed to have seen a distressed Sitora riding a motorcycle driven by a man. The pair appeared to have a row before Sitora allegedly jumped off the motorcycle and tumbled onto the road.

Prasan said: 'When I approached the motorcycle driver, he said he was not in a relationship with the woman and was only taking her to Pattaya. He drove away when I mentioned I would call the police.'

Sattahip Police said they were investigating the discrepancies in the testimonies.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyapong Ensarn of the Pattaya Tourist Police said officers were providing assistance to Sitora and have informed the Uzbek Embassy about the incident.

The bizarre suspect attack is one the latest incidents to blight the region.

Pattaya, one of the world's most depraved sex tourism destinations, has become a controversial area for locals in recent years, with ministers vowing the transform the town in a family friendly holiday spot.

However, the lucrative nightlife industry has proved difficult to control, with impoverished locals flocking to the area to seek a better life with money earned from tourists.

Earlier this week, The Association of Chonburi Tourism Federation (ACTF) met with Tourism Minister Sermsak Pongpanit to discuss how Pattaya can distance itself from its seedy image, which began I the 1960s when American GIs stationed in Thailand for anti-communist offensives would take debauched rest and relaxation breaks by the sea.