Police investigating the discovery in Pluak Daeng district have applied for an arrest warrant for Wichai Chotisena, 58, detained on Wednesday after his motorcycle was identified as matching the one seen in CCTV surveillance video picking up the Prathom 5 student from school the day before.

Police said Winai offered “confusing” testimony but admitted to picking the girl up at her school, saying she “wanted to meet her dad”.

Police said he claimed the girl had fallen off his bike and suffered a fatal broken neck, so he hid her body in bushes about four kilometres from her home – and removed her clothing to try and prevent her being recognised. Winai reportedly insisted he did not rape the girl.