Bangkok, Sep 14 (IANS): A Thai court on Monday upheld the death sentence imposed for a young railway employee who raped and murdered a 13-year-old girl on a train on July 5, 2014.

Wanchai Saengkhao, 23, was convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl who was asleep in her berth on the Bangkok bound train, and then throwing her out of the carriage while she was still alive, the Bangkok Post reported.

The Appeals Court's decision was read out in the Hua Hin Provincial Court earlier in the day.

On September 30, 2014, the Hua Hin Provincial Court found Wanchai guilty on several counts.

The court sentenced him to death for murder, to nine years in prison for raping a girl under 15, five years for stealing her tablet computer and a mobile phone, one year for hiding her body and six months for using methamphetamine.

The defendant appealed for mercy on the grounds he had confessed in an act of repentance.

The Appeals Court rejected Wanchai's plea and upheld the lower court's judgement and sentences.

The State Railway of Thailand has paid the girl's family about 8.5 million baht ($235,866) in compensation.