A JUDGE at Phuket Provincial Court today heard evidence from a young Swedish tourist who alleges that she was raped by a Phuket taxi driver.

The hearing of the testimony of the 21-year-old woman today will allow her to leave for Sweden with her family as scheduled on Tuesday.

In 12 days, the man she accuses of rape, Phuket taxi driver Piti Siriyotha, will face the court. He was not present today, said Chalong Police Superintendent Colonel Kaitong Jantongbai, who is overseeing the case.

Police charged Khun Piri with rape after a medical examination at Vachira Hospital in Phuket City indicated that there was evidence that intercourse had taken place, and that it was not consensual.

Khun Piri, a married man, says he picked up the Swedish woman as she was walking near Karon sports stadium early on Sunday morning, and they drove to a quieter part of the beach where they had sex.

The tourist denies the sex was consensual.

Phuket's honorary consuls have been pressing local authorities to establish a rape crisis centre so that all women who claim they have been raped can be assured of a fair hearing and sanctuary.

Women who report rape are believed to number just a small fraction of the sexual assaults that take place and go unreported.