Charles Sobhraj, also known as the “Bikini Killer” or “The Serpent,” is one of the most infamous criminals of the 20th century
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. Born on April 6, 1944, in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), Sobhraj’s early life was marked by abandonment and neglect
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. His father left when he was a child, and his Vietnamese mother remarried a Frenchman
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. As a mixed-race child, Sobhraj faced discrimination and alienation
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Sobhraj’s criminal career began with petty crimes in his teenage years, and he soon escalated to more serious offenses
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. He was known for his ability to charm and manipulate people, which he used to his advantage in committing crimes across Europe and Asia
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. His crimes included robberies, car thefts, smuggling, and ultimately, murder
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In the 1970s, Sobhraj preyed on Western tourists traveling the “hippie trail” of South Asia, using various aliases to gain their trust before robbing and killing them
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. His most notorious crimes took place in Thailand, where he murdered at least 14 tourists
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. Despite his heinous acts, Sobhraj managed to evade authorities for years, earning him the nickname “The Serpent” for his ability to slip away undetected
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Sobhraj’s life of crime eventually caught up with him, and he was arrested in Nepal in 2003
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. He was convicted of multiple murders and sentenced to life imprisonment
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. After serving 19 years in prison, he was released in December 2022 due to his old age
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. Today, Sobhraj lives in France as a free man, continuing to be a subject of fascination and debate among crime enthusiasts
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For more information, you can watch this YouTube video about Charles Sobhraj.
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www.cnbctv18.com
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wikibio.in
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en.wikipedia.org
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