Police are searching for a van driver who beat a lone woman passenger after attempting to rape her on Sunday night.
Thanyalak Chumming can now testify to Khlong Khoy police in Nonthaburi's Pak Kret district even though she still suffers from head injuries sustained in the attack with a metal pipe.
Police are interviewing her further to compose a sketch of the suspect, thought to be 35-40 years old. No further details about his appearance were immediately available.
Thanyalak's injuries include brain haemorrhaging, abrasions all over her arms and legs and swollen eyelids from being punched in the face.
Activist Pavena Hongsakul, who brought the case to the public's attention following a complaint from the victim's mother, said immediate police action was needed, because this sort of assault was regarded as highly dangerous and detrimental to women travelling alone.
The victim said she took a bus from Zeer Mall in Pathum Thani's Rangsit area to Central Lat Phrao.
When she was left alone after all of the other passengers got off, the driver threatened to hurt her unless she sat next to him in the front seat.
She managed to call a friend before moving up front, then grabbed the steering wheel during a fight after the driver molested her. The van missed a turn, causing the driver to become angry and start hitting her with the pipe.
After the victim lost consciousness, the driver stopped, dragged her to a pond and tried to drown her by forcing her head under water.
The driver stopped after she played dead. She later crawled for help and asked her rescuers to call the same friend, since the driver had taken her wallet and mobile phone.