The suspect is said to have observed the Thailand tourist bathing at a remote waterfall. He then apparently tried to steal her money from her backpack.
Phuket – After the violent death of a Swiss woman on the Thai holiday island of Phuket, a 27-year-old man was charged with murder. The police announced this at a press conference.
Evidence and testimony led to the arrest of the Thai, said police spokesman Krisana Pattanacharoen. The man is also accused of robbery resulting in death. Official information on the woman’s cause of death was initially not available. Accordingly, the publication of an autopsy report was pending for the time being.
The police arrested the alleged perpetrator on Saturday during an investigation into the death of the 57-year-old, whose body was discovered on Thursday near a remote waterfall in southern Phuket. According to the information, the man was in the area to collect exotic plants. He saw the woman swimming, watched her for a while, and then tried to steal her things.
Suspect stole 7.60 euros from backpack
There was a fight that probably led to the death of the woman, the police said. The man then stole 300 baht (the equivalent of around 7.60 euros) from his victim’s backpack and hid it behind a tree. He covered the woman’s body with a black tarpaulin and then fled.
The officers’ investigations soon focused on the 27-year-old suspect. Surveillance cameras recorded his vehicle in the area at the time of the incident. In addition, the Thai showed bruises and injuries during an investigation after his arrest.
The man was hooked up to the Thai police’s press conference by phone and confessed to the crime. He lost his job due to the effects of the corona pandemic and wanted to take the woman’s money. The 27-year-old apologized to the Swiss woman’s family and asked for forgiveness.
Swiss woman participated in a model project
The police initially did not provide any details as to why the tourist was found only partially clothed. According to the suspect, she went into the water to swim.
The Swiss woman traveled to the largest island in the kingdom in mid-July as part of a model project for tourism in Corona times.
Fully vaccinated people from almost 70 countries have been able to travel to Phuket again since July 1st. As part of the so-called “Sandbox” project, guests have strict rules, but they are allowed to move freely around the island. The government wants to try to at least partially revive the tourism sector, which has been on the ground for a year and a half as a result of the pandemic. dpa
