Murder In Seafood Restaurant: Thepprasit Road....

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: March 7th 2007

MYSTERY ASSAILANT KILLS FEMALE BURMESE MIGRANT WORKER IN PATTAYA

The Pattaya police captain Somporn Supolsongkram , from Dongtan area received a report yesterday 6th March at 5pm about a murder in a seafood restaurant Pattaya Seafood, 315/189 Thephrasit Road, Jomtien. The police went to the crime scene accompanied by the Sawang Boriboon Rescue Team and a doctor from the hospital.

The crime scene was located in the staff bathroom, but only a pool of blood was found, as the body had been sent to Banglamung hospital. The police followed them and discovered that the murder victim was a female Burmese national by the name of Ms. Tom(30). Her assailant had inflicted more than 10 wounds in the vicinity of her neck, mouth and face. Apparently, the murderer had attempted to cut her head off. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. She had been clothed in a loose, sleeveless T shirt, but had been naked from the waist down and was subsequently examined for sexual interference.

After searching at the crime scene, the police found black shorts, black underpants and evidence that the woman had been having a period. A knife was found about 20 meters behind the staff room with evidence of blood on it.

The restaurant owner, Mrs. Junyarak Suppaibul (53) reported that the victim was a Burmese lady who had only been working for 8 days, she had received no salary, merely willing to work for sufficient bus fare to return home to Burma. She also confirmed that the lady was a really nice girl, never had a problem and was a diligent worker.

Mrs. Junyarak reported that at 8.30 am, Ms. Tom had had an altercation with a fellow worker, Mr.Tep, a Cambodian (25). They had apparently been fighting over the washing bucket and equipment, but the noise died down and later they found the dead body of Ms.Tom.

Police Colonel Sutin Sappuong , the Chief of Pattaya Police, reported that they will collect all the evidence, and thoroughly investigate the matter, but they suspect that Mr.Tep, the Cambodian, was the murderer. He has since disappeared. The police are following up their inquiries.

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Comment from the Editor

1. If the arguing couple had made so much noise swearing at each other etc, why did none of the restaurant staff dare to investigate?

2. If the Burmese worker is working illegally, the restaurant owner should be partly responsible.

3. One wonders if MS. Tom had been a British national working at good class hotel or restaurant, with her own room and had been killed in the bathroom, it would have been writ large all over the front pages of the press worldwide.

4. Do human rights depend on the nationality? Developed or developing world?