By James Reynolds. A German backpacker has spoken of her rape ordeal on a Thai island as her attacker was jailed for two years and eight months without parole. Florentina Retka, 24, had taken a solo trip to the Southeast Asian country where she booked a tour around the tropical island of Koh Chang with local guide Kasama Apichaisompon, 55, in February this year. But the cruise ship worker said she began to feel uncomfortable when he took her to an isolated beach with no other tourists around.
Florentina said she was paddling in the sea when the Thai native grabbed her from behind before pulling aside her swimsuit and penetrating her in the water.
Frozen with fear, she was too afraid to scream or fight back 'in case he killed me'. Florentina pictured on holiday in Thailand shortly before the attack in February this year. Florentina bravely shared her story and urged women not to travel alone in Thailand.
After the attack on February 15, the rapist dropped Florentina back at her hotel resort. She said she collapsed in tears and confided in her family before she filed a police report at the local station on February Kasama turned himself in at the Koh Chang Police Station on the same day and on November 30 was finally sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
Bravely waiving her right to anonymity, the holidaymaker broke down in tears as she recounted the ordeal - and warned other lone female tourists to avoid the country. She said: 'I was isolated on a beach with nobody around. He forced himself on me and raped me. How could I have fought back? He could have killed me. He took something from me that day, my dignity, my respect. Florentina said that she had travelled alone to other countries and always felt safe, 'even in the Middle East'.
