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Identifying himself only as Oam, the Chaiyaphum native said Neil once asked him: "Why would I need other boys since I have you with me?"

That comment was in response to Oam asking Neil about rumours that he had frequently paid for sex with underage boys before the two met a few years ago.

Oam said Neil even refused to allow him to undergo a sexchange operation and kept complaining about an unsuccessful cosmetic operation to make his face look more feminine until he corrected his facial structure to its previous look.

Oam said he met Neil a few years ago in a Pattaya beer bar where he moonlighted as a crossdressing bar girl in addition to his day job as an Internet cafe clerk.

"The moment I saw his face, I knew right away that he was my soulmate," he added.

Oam said Neil was impressed with him because he offered to let him use his camera after Neil lost his. Oam said he first had sex with Neil on Koh Chang, off the coast near Trat, a few months later when the two agreed to further their longtime relationship.

Oam said he took Neil to his home in Chaiyaphum's Chatturat district and he was well liked by locals. "Everybody likes him. He is a decent person and friendly with everyone around him, children or adults. He is welcomed by all my neighbours."

He said he and Neil were planning to open a restaurant in Pattaya and he had borrowed Bt300,000 from his mother to set it up before Neil was arrested by police on October 18 in Nakhon Ratchasima, where both were in hiding at a home owned by Oam's relatives.

It has not been decided whether Neil will be extradited to face charges of child molestation and statutory rape in other countries apart from facing prosecution in Thailand for two cases of allegedly violating underage boys four years ago.

Oam has not been charged with any criminal offence despite his apparent assistance in providing a hiding place for Neil - a felony under Thai law.