Ms Janisch, a student at the University of Zurich, was on a student exchange programme at the National University of Singapore. She had been on holiday in Thailand since the beginning of December.
She was first reported missing via travel website Travelfish.com, by her mother, Elizabeth Janisch, in Switzerland.
Concerned about her daughter’s whereabouts, Mrs Janisch posted a forum message on the website asking for information or sightings of her daughter.
The Swiss Embassy then contacted Pol Maj Gen Roy Ingpairoj, the Tourist Police Commander in Bangkok, who spread the news around Thailand’s tourist police stations, including the one in Ranong.
While this was going on, Ms Janisch had been arrested by Ranong Tourist Police on December 25 after, police say, she tried to steal a Canon camera belonging to the immigration office. She was sent to the Ranong Police Station.
“I went to Ranong police station to be an interpreter [for her case] on December 26. Later that day, I found her picture in a newspaper and realised that she had been reported missing,” Col Rungroj Somjai said as he explained how he pieced together the information.
Col Rungroj said Ms Janisch had confessed to police in Ranong that she had overstayed by three days, but denied stealing the camera. She remains in jail waiting for her case to be heard.
On hearing the news, Ms Janisch’s mother and aunt flew straight to Thailand from Switzerland and arrived in Ranong on Monday (January 21). They were told they must pay B130,000 to release Ms Janisch on bail.
“Her mother has found a lawyer for her and the lawyer sent a bail request to the Ranong court yesterday. So far today, I have not heard from Ms Janisch,” Col Rungroj told The Phuket News.