Police in Thailand expanded a manhunt and issued an arrest warrant for a suspected Canadian pedophile, as new details emerged Thursday about crimes he may have committed.
CTV's Steve Chao was invited to accompany Thailand's sex-crimes unit Thursday as police launched their nationwide manhunt for Christopher Paul Neil.
Chao said police were following Neil's trail, which included investigating half a dozen hotels and apartments, and a series of false identities.
Police say Neil went by the names Peter Jackson, Herbert Neil and Daniel Neil.
"Christopher was always friendly," a longtime guard at Neil's former Bangkok condominium told Chao. "He used to arrive in a taxi and walked hand in hand into the apartment with different boys."
One of them was allegedly a thirteen-year-old boy who spoke to CTV. He claimed that when he was nine, a man took him to the condominium and he was forced to have sex.
Thai police Maj. Gen. Wimon Pao-in confirmed that an arrest warrant had been issued Thursday for Neil, following new allegations from a group of young boys.
"I, as an officer and human being, am angry at this crime," said Wimon. "We will do all we can to bring justice. We believe there are many more young victims out there."
Three Thai youths came forward Wednesday alleging they were paid to perform oral sex in 2003, Wimon told The Associated Press. At the time, the boys were 9, 13 and 14.
Two of the boys also claim they were shown pornographic images at the suspect's apartment.
The suspect is alleged to have had sex that year with at least one other boy, said Wimon. The boys were allegedly paid between US$16 to $32 for sexual relations.
Interpol issued an international wanted notice for Neil on Thursday, releasing a scan of his passport and his immigration card from when he arrived in Thailand on Oct. 11.
The Interpol red notice seeks the arrest or provisional arrest of a wanted person with a view to extradition.
"I'd like to strongly confirm that he has been living in Thailand, and we believe we can get him there, coming soon," said Interpol's Col. Apichat Surib.
Thailand is the first country to bring charges against Neil. They include abducting a minor, forcible confinement and sexual abuse.
The charges carry a maximum jail sentence of twenty years.
Neil, a 32-year-old native of British Columbia, has been the subject of an international manhunt since photos of him were released to the public last week.
German police, investigating the case for about three years, allege they discovered about 200 photos of a man sexually abusing children -- but his face had been digitally disguised.
The break came when investigators were able to allegedly restore the images to their original state, which they then released to the media through Interpol.
The images were allegedly posted on the Internet in 2004, but were likely taken in 2002 and 2003 in Cambodia and Vietnam.
On Monday, after receiving hundreds of tips, Interpol announced it had identified the suspect but did not release his name until today. However, Thai and Cambodian police revealed the man's name, age and nationality on Tuesday.
Wimon said Thursday that authorities were tracking Neil through a network of his friends in Thailand.
"That's one of the reasons why he is so hard to catch. He could be hiding in anyone's apartment or any obscure place,'' Wimon told a news conference.
Neil recently worked as an ESL teacher in Korea and slipped into Thailand last Thursday after allegations became public.
In the 'Address in Thailand' section on the arrival card, Neil wrote "TOURING ROSE INN."
There is a Rose Inn located in Phuket Province, described in an online review as "a fairly quiet spot" at the back of a travel agency.
Canadian authorities have said they would like to seek extradition if Neil is captured.
"Extradition is a distinct possibility," said Chao.
"Right now though... there's a high possibility as well that Thailand may choose to prosecute him."
With files from The Associated Press
