Pattaya - UPI
Three men convicted of raping and robbing two Russian tourists received long prison terms Wednesday in Thailand.
A judge in Pattaya Provincial Court sentenced Anuwat Wat-on to 46 1/2 years, the Bangkok Post reported. Wichian Jaija, 36, was given a 41-year term and Thongcai Jandee, 21, 21 1/2 years.
The victims, identified only as Maria and Anastasia, said they were attacked on Boxing Day, Dec. 26, 2012, as they returned to their hotel in Pattaya, a popular beach resort about 80 miles southeast of Bangkok.
The women said they were forced into a pickup truck by a man armed with a knife and gun, while the other men waited in the truck. They were driven to a closed guard shack near a reservoir, where they were forced to undress and then sexually assaulted.
The men then drove off with their smartphones and cash.
Wichian, Thongcai and Anuwat were arrested a week later.
At the sentencing, Judge Apichart Themnoo said the crime damaged Thailand's reputation as a safe vacation place for foreign tourists.