Koh Samui murder: Police interview British fitness trainer seen arguing with Ukrainian victim

[webfact]

Koh Samui murder: Police interview British fitness trainer seen arguing with Ukrainian victim

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Further details have emerged in a murder enquiry after a 32 year old Ukrainian woman was found dead in a wooded area of Maret, Koh Samui at the weekend. 

 

Thai Rath reported that the victim had struck up a relationship with a 47 year old British fitness trainer and had told her Ukrainian husband two months ago that she was taking their 10 year old to go and live with him. 

 

But it appears that the new relationship was a stormy one. The media reported that the victim suffered from bipolar disorder for which she took regular medication to control aggressive behavior. 

 

Shortly before her disappearance on May 25th Bo Phut police understand that the victim had gone to return a motorcycle she had rented but had not had 2,000 baht to pay. She had consequently left her passport at the shop while she went to pawn her phone to get funds. 

 

She returned to the shop some time later on the back of a motorcycle driven by the British man.

 

The owner of the shop returned the passport but told police that the couple were arguing. 

 

Pol Lt-Col Thanongsak Aksornsom questioned the British man on Monday with Thai Rath reporting that he was a suspect in the case. 

 

In further developments Surat Thani deputy chief Pol Col Wirun Suwannawong led a team to the woods where the body was found for a reexamination of the area. This time a drink's bottle and a pair of earrings were found that belonged to the victim. 

 

An autopsy at the police hospital is underway to determine the cause of death said Pol Col Wirun.

 

The decomposing body of the victim was found off a gravel path on Friday by a man out foraging for mushrooms. Scared, he ran off but later returned to the scene with friends who alerted the authorities. 

 

A green "Ferrari" bag containing a purse with 700 baht found at the scene was identified by the Ukrainian husband as belonging to his ex.

 

The Ukrainian couple had been married for 12 years and had a 10 year old son. They had lived on Koh Samui for 5 years. The husband is a freelance photographer with a presence on Facebook.

 

After the wife announced she was leaving divorce proceedings began. 

 

Investigations continue. 

 

Source: Thai Rath

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-06-09

 

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[norfolkandchance]

Wait for the ‘ I told you so ‘.

[smedly]

RIP

[alation]

Well it is closer to finding the perpetrator (s) come on coppers come on find who it was. I wonder why they didn't do a proper check of the area originally??????????

[robsamui]

49 minutes ago, alation said:

Well it is closer to finding the perpetrator (s) come on coppers come on find who it was. I wonder why they didn't do a proper check of the area originally??????????

Thais are trained from birth to have no initiative, and later schooled to be unable to make individual decisions without being part of a group or told to by an authority figure. So the forager had to report to his family group, who all listened to the head-granny, then they all had to go in a crowd together and trample the crime scene, before granny decided that it was indeed a body and not just the result of eating too many mushrooms and called in the police.

(Cultural note - you will experience this curious group phenomenon for yourself if you ever have a traffic accident involving a Thai. Five minutes after the police have taken you to the police station, a family group of around 30 will appear and all hang about outside looking fierce - although obviously in this case with different motivation.)

Edited June 9, 2020 by robsamui

[nausea]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

But it appears that the new relationship was a stormy one.

I'm not surprised it was stormy if he couldn't/wouldn't give her 2000bt to get her passport back. 

[transam]

So the first time round the detectives missed a bottle and a pair of earrings.????

 

Perhaps a third look may be required....????

[Megasin1]

maybe they will find a bit more evidence when they hold the obligatory crime scene reenactment, you can never guess what they might stumble across or trip over whilst playing candy crush

[evadgib]

3 hours ago, alation said:

Well it is closer to finding the perpetrator (s) come on coppers come on find who it was. I wonder why they didn't do a proper check of the area originally??????????

Media and the synchronised pointing team (30+ vehicles and a large number of dignatories/people) were doing just that when I passed the scene 90 mins ago. 

 

RIP to the deceased and condolences to her family.

Edited June 9, 2020 by evadgib

[yellowboat]

They need to find the cause of death before they can accuse anyone of anything.  

[allanos]

Even for the RTP, it is evident that they can rule out robbery or suicide. That narrows the field considerably, for them.

 

Cherchez l'homme! 

[nausea]

10 minutes ago, allanos said:

Even for the RTP, it is evident that they can rule out robbery or suicide. That narrows the field considerably, for them.

 

Cherchez l'homme! 

I don't see how you rule out suicide, without the autopsy report, the woman was a bit crazy after all. Please explain your reasoning. Maybe I'm a bit thick or something. Yes, I agree, 90% of these murders are committed by someone close to the victim. A simple timeline check on each suspect should sort it.

[khunken]

Not checking the scene of the crime (or where the body was placed) the first time brings to mind the Ko Tao fiasco.

Makes one fear for any Burmese in the area.

[rtco]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

This time a drink's bottle and a pair of earrings were found that belonged to the victim. 

Should have been found the first time if the BiB had done their job properly

[LivinLOS]

No Burmese nearby ?? 

[Tony125]

1 hour ago, nausea said:

I don't see how you rule out suicide, without the autopsy report, the woman was a bit crazy after all. Please explain your reasoning. Maybe I'm a bit thick or something. Yes, I agree, 90% of these murders are committed by someone close to the victim. A simple timeline check on each suspect should sort it.

Yes your maybe a bit thick or didn't read the report that some one covered the body with palm fronds to try and hide her body. Don't think she could kill herself then cover up her own body 

[nausea]

5 minutes ago, Tony125 said:

Yes your maybe a bit thick or didn't read the report that some one covered the body with palm fronds to try and hide her body. Don't think she could kill herself then cover up her own body 

I stand corrected.

[BobBKK]

2 hours ago, cheapcanuck said:

I like how these TV Sherlocks have this case solved so quickly. 

Colonel Mustard in the Conservatory with the Lead Pipe

[Filadog]

8 hours ago, alation said:

Well it is closer to finding the perpetrator (s) come on coppers come on find who it was. I wonder why they didn't do a proper check of the area originally??????????

Because you have to know who's DNA you "might find" there before you go looking. I'm thinking a third even more thorough search will be in order once they've swabbed the "correct" suspect. ????

[johnarth]

dont know how long poor lady had this horrible disorder, could be the husband was hoping she would find another man who knows

[Tropposurfer]

Tension at having to deal with a moody partner plus the drama over money and arguing about such things aren’t out of the ordinary for many folks. Don’t mean he killed her.

lets wait n see what plod comes up with.

[chivo]

9 hours ago, robsamui said:

Thais are trained from birth to have no initiative, and later schooled to be unable to make individual decisions without being part of a group or told to by an authority figure. So the forager had to report to his family group, who all listened to the head-granny, then they all had to go in a crowd together and trample the crime scene, before granny decided that it was indeed a body and not just the result of eating too many mushrooms and called in the police.

(Cultural note - you will experience this curious group phenomenon for yourself if you ever have a traffic accident involving a Thai. Five minutes after the police have taken you to the police station, a family group of around 30 will appear and all hang about outside looking fierce - although obviously in this case with different motivation.)

It’s so true: that everything is a decision by extended family commitee. And once ‘the ideas/solutions’ flow, there’s no real analytical or discriminatory process, it’s just a matter of how soon can we all get our heads nodding together and go eat lunch. 

[Elkski]

how was the under 50 yr old husband able to live and work in Thailand for 5 years.    I guess one should learn from the pros.   body must be in cement  and barrel and dumped in water.  Like those political refugees in Cambodia.  

[nomadinuk]

Unlikely, but if yhe phone is still at the pawn shop, maybe it will have incriminating messages on it?

[Gandtee]

One report I read was that the finder ran home to tell his family and two days? later they all went to the site to confirm it was a body. Ghosts???

[metisdead]

Some troll posts and replies have been removed. 

[Bob A Kneale]

Just now, Elkski said:

how was the under 50 yr old husband able to live and work in Thailand for 5 years. 

With a visa?  Who said that he "worked" in Thailand, he was quoted as being a freelance photographer, that's all.  Why are you concerned about how he's able to live here?

[Matzzon]

2 hours ago, bluedoc said:

Why guess when someone’s life is at stake. You’d make a good Thai cop.

What? Is one more going to die? I thought she was dead already?

[brianthainess]

10 hours ago, Elkski said:

how was the under 50 yr old husband able to live and work in Thailand for 5 years.

He was a freelance photographer, i know this coz i read the story.

[brianthainess]

11 hours ago, nomadinuk said:

Unlikely, but if yhe phone is still at the pawn shop, maybe it will have incriminating messages on it?

Shh you might give the cops ideas ????