Charles Sobhraj: The Serpent

 A fraudster, master of disguise and a convicted serial killer, Charles Sobhraj (aka The bikini killer) a name that would send a chill down the spine of anyone familiar with the 1970s “Hippie Trail”.

A man responsible for the murder or atleast 20 tourists primarily in the South and Southeast Asia. Sobhraj began his criminal career with petty crimes like burglary in his younger days before moving onto more sinister activities.

Charles Sobhraj

His primary victims, western tourists who were drawn to the Hippie Trail. Sobhraj’s modus operandi was quiet effective, he would pose as a gem dealer or a helpful local, which would help him then gain the trust of his victim before drugging them. Once the victim was incapacitated, he would then rob them of their money and passport. For many that would be the end of their suffering, but for those who became an inconvenience, were brutally murdered.

The victims would often be found drowned or burned, and since their passports were stolen their identities would be difficult uncover, in the mean time Sobhraj would use those documents to cross borders. The nickname Bikini Killer emerged after many of his female victims were found clad only in bikinis.

Cornelia Hemker (left) and Henricus Bintanja went missing in Thailand in 1975. Their bodies were found burned Source: Thailand Police

His spree of murders and crime spanned multiple countries including Thailand, Nepal, Malaysia and India along with the help of his girlfriend Marie-Andree Leclerc. In 1976, while drugging a group of french students Sobhraj and Leclerc were arrested in New Delhi.

He was sentenced to 12 years in jail, which would end just short of the 20 year statue of limitations in Thailand where he would be deported to. But true his nickname the serpent, Sobhraj had befriended and bribed the guards at the Tihar jail in Delhi and was living a lavish life, comprising of a private cell, TV and gourmet food. One fine day he decided the throw a party for the entire jail staff and the prisoners, where he drugged them all with sweets and just walked out of the prison.

His freedom was short lived as the indian authorities caught him in Goa. This exceptional move which added 10 years to his sentence, helped him over the statue of limitations of Thailand and he was deported to his country of citizenship France in 1997.

In a foolish and an overconfident move he went to Nepal, a county where he was still wanted for a business deal in 2003 and was arrested on murder charges. Following trial Sobhraj was sentenced life imprisonment.

Release

In 2022 Sobhraj was released from prison due to old age after serving 19 years and was deported to France where he currently resides according to reports.