Detectives investigate possible sighting of missing Melbourne schoolgirl Siriyakorn ‘Bung’ Siriboon
UPDATE: MISSING schoolgirl Siriyakorn “Bung’’ Siriboon may have been casually looking out from the inside her abductor’s car unaware she was being taken away.
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MISSING schoolgirl Siriyakorn “Bung’’ Siriboon may have been casually looking out at congested traffic from the inside of her abductor’s car unaware she was being taken away.
The new revelation in the search for the teenager, revealed on the third anniversary of her disappearance yesterday, has placed an Asian girl fitting the basic description of Bung staring through the back window of a white Ford on Boronia Rd.
The only confirmed sighting of Bung was on Elsie St, around 8.30am, by a neighbour as she walked to school, Boronia Heights College.
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In the latest information, a witness has described a man at the wheel of the car as being Caucasian, in his 50s or 60s and wearing a “rock and roll’’ slick-back hairstyle, blue singlet and colourful tattoo on his left arm.
The sighting, reported to police some time ago, may respark the investigation if police can make a breakthrough on a case which has been plagued by false or fabricated leads.
There are several suspects still being investigated by the homicide squad, none of which fit the description of the singlet wearing driver of the white Ford Falcon wagon (1988 to 1996 model) which was travelling east on Boronia Rd, Boronia, between 8.30am and 9am on June 2, 2011.
The man and the Asian girl were seen at the intersection of Boronia Rd and Floriston Rd, and drove east towards The Basin.
Homicide Squad Det Inspector John Potter said they still did not know the identity of the driver or whether it was Bung inside the car, describing it as an “odd scenario’’ worth investigating.
“We don’t know whether Bung was in that car that day and that’s why we are appealing for help,’’ Det Insp Potter said.
“Indeed we can’t confirm this sighting was in fact of Bung and indeed the sighting is in conflict with another appeal we made regarding a possible sighting of Bung in Harcourt road just near the school before 9 o’clock that day.
“She couldn’t have been at two places at once so we need information from anyone that can help us regarding this man, the Asian girl in the back seat of the car and the white Ford station wagon.”
“She could not be in two places at once.”
Investigators have searched data-banks of cars matching the Ford’s description but have been unable to make a breakthrough.
Bung’s parents, Fred and Vannida Pattison, did not want to speak yesterday but hold out hope their daughter will return home.
Police have several suspects it continues to work on but the witness’s account adds to the list.
One suspect is a man who contacted police and claimed to have run over Bung and panicked, dumping her body in a nearby creek.
There is another suspect also being scrutinised by detectives.
A $1 million reward was offered in February for information leading to a conviction.
Bung was reportedly last seen by a neighbour just after she left her Elsie St home in Boronia at 8.30am on June 2, 2011, walking towards Albert Ave.
Det Insp Potter revealed police had received the information for “some time”, but did not release it to the public until they had confirmed it was on June 2, 2011, the morning she disappeared.
“We have had the information for some time, but some of it was sketchy,” he said.
“We have now confirmed it was the day in question.”
He added: “We always hold out hope (of solving the case).
“Sometime, someone might tell someone else what happened to Bung and we need that person to come forward.”
DETAILS OF THE SIGHTING
A witness has told police they saw a girl aged in her early to mid teens in the rear passenger seat of the EA to EF model Ford Falcon — which range from 1988 to 1996 in age — wearing a light-coloured collared shirt and a dark blue V-neck jumper.
The car was reportedly being driven by a man of caucasian appearance, described as being in his late 50s to early 60s with light brown hair combed back in a “rock and roll style”.
He was wearing a blue-coloured singlet and had a coloured tattoo on his left upper arm.
The car was seen at traffic lights at the Boronia Rd and Floriston Rd intersection, just east of Dorset Rd, before it continued east along Boronia Rd and straight through the roundabout at Albert Ave.
In the early stages of the investigation into Bung's disappearance, it was suggested Bung had been seen walking along Harcourt Rd, crossing Paisley Ave and heading towards Moncoe St about 8.55am.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Cath Allen said that information had been investigated by detectives, but had not substantiated by further information.
Detectives have interviewed more than 250 registered sex offenders and followed up hundreds of calls to Crime Stoppers as part of their investigation.
A reward of up to $1 million for information leading to the arrest and subsequent conviction of those responsible for her disappearance was announced in February.
Bung is described as being of Thai origin, about 154cm tall, thin build with long dark hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with fresh information about Bung’s disappearance or information about the white Ford Falcon seen in the area on the day she went missing is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppers.com.au.
BUNG CLUES
1 – Left home in Elsie St on June 2 2011 at 8.20am.
2 – Seen by a neighbour on Elsie St walking east towards Albert Ave and her school, Boronia Heights College.
3 – Unconfirmed sighting of Bung on Harcourt Rd, having crossed Paisley Ave, at 8.55am.
4 – New information – released on third anniversary of Bung’s disappearance yesterday – that girl matching her appearance was seen looking out of the back window of White Ford Falcon, EA to EF model made between 1988 and 1996. Police say they don’t know if it was Bung but say she “cannot be in two places at once.”
5 – Driver of car described as aged in late 50s to early 60s, light brown hair combed back in “rock and roll” style, coloured tattoo on upper left arm and wearing blue singlet.
6 - The car was seen at traffic lights at Boronia Rd and Floriston Rd intersection, just east of Dorset Rd, before it continued east along Boronia Rd and headed straight at roundabout at Albert Ave.
7 - More than 1200 pieces of information have been examined by police, and the alibis and movements of 250 sex offenders checked.
8 - In December, homicide squad detectives arrested and questioned a man, 24, who earlier claimed to have hit and killed Bung while driving his car on the morning she disappeared, then panicked and disposed of her body at a local reserve.
9 – Police spent days in August last year searching Old Joe’s Creek retarding basin but found nothing.
10 – Police seized “items of interest” from the man, which have been forensically tested.
11 – In February, police announced a $1 million reward and immunity for information about the missing Melbourne schoolgirl.