By Nopporn Wong-Anan
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Canadian paedophile suspect ChristopherNeil went on trial in Thailand on Monday, more than four monthsafter he was arrested in a global man-hunt triggered by "swirlyface" images of abuse found on the Internet.
Neil, his wrists and ankles shackled as he appeared in theBangkok Criminal Court, pleaded not guilty to four charges ofmolesting and distributing pornographic images of two Thaiboys, a prosecutor told reporters.
If found guilty, the 32-year-old could spend up to 20 yearsin jail.
"I just hope there is justice in Thailand," Neil,clean-shaven and wearing orange-brown prison clothes, toldreporters before entering the courtroom.
Neil was caught after clever police work unravelled hisdigitally scrambled face from images of abuse found on theInternet, prompting Interpol to issue a unique public appeal.
The pictures are thought to have been taken in Vietnam andCambodia, so fall outside Thai jurisdiction.
However, after Neil fled to Thailand from South Korea,where he had been teaching, two Thai brothers came forward andaccused him of paying for oral sex when they were 9 and 14,grounds for prosecution under Thai law.
Three charges of molesting underage children, deprivingchildren of parental care and restraint of freedom areconnected to the 9-year-old boy. Neil is also charged withdistributing pornographic images of the brothers.
The court adjourned the trial to June 2, the earliest datewhen judges, prosecutor and a defence lawyer appointed by thecourt on Monday, were available, Neil's lawyer RanachaiChumthong told reporters.
Ranachai said his client would ask for bail.
Neil was caught in October last year in the northeasternprovince of Nakhon Ratchasima, 250 km (160 miles) from Bangkok,due to a trace on the mobile phone of his 25-year-oldtransvestite boyfriend.
The transvestite boyfriend, the only friend who visits Neilregularly in jail and showed up in court, told reporters shedid not believe the "friendly and fun guy" was a paedophile.
"He never did anything to my nieces or nephews when I tookhim to see my family," said the partner, who identified herselfto reporters as "Ohm".
"He was a romantic man taking me to places like islands andbeaches," she added. "I believe he did not do it. I am notseeing anyone and I will wait for him until he is free."
Thai police said he could be extradited once he had servedany sentence. Cambodia said it also wanted to question Neil andwould charge him if police there could put a case together.Vietnam might also want to question him.
(Editing by Darren Schuettler)
