Thai police charge local man with murder of Swiss tourist on Phuket

[webfact]

 

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Police in Thailand said on Sunday a 27-year-old Thai man had been charged with the murder a Swiss woman who was found dead earlier this week on the resort island of Phuket.

 

"Police have charged the offender for murder and robbery causing death," Krisana Pattanacharoen, a deputy police spokesman said at a news conference in Phuket.

 

"The cause of death has yet to be confirmed and autopsy has yet to be released," he said.

 

The victim, 57-year-old Swiss tourist Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf, was visiting Thailand under the new Phuket Sandbox tourist campaign that allows fully vaccinated travellers to enter the island without quarantine as long as they remain on there for two weeks.

 

The suspect knocked out the tourist and robbed her, having encountered the woman at a waterfall where he had gone to find fruits, Nanthadet Yoinuan, deputy provincial police chief said.

 

"He found 300 baht ($9) in her bag and used it to buy drugs, drinks and phone repairs," he said.

 

After he was detained and questioned, the suspect confessed to attacking the victim, Nanthadet said.

 

Police also took the unusual step of having the suspect call in to the press briefing to make a statement.

 

The safety of visitors is a sensitive issue for Thailand, as tourism is a key industry, accounting for 12% of GDP in 2019, though it has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

 

($1 = 33.4500 baht)

 

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2021-08-09

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

 

[webfact]

Sandbox tourist killer confesses to attacking Swiss woman, denies intent to murder, rape

 

Phuket Town, earlier today (Aug 8). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

 

PHUKET: Teerawat Thothip, a 27-year-old resident of Pa Khlok in Phuket has confessed to choking Swiss tourist Nicole Sauvain-Weiskopf with a headlock, but has denied intention to kill her and denied any attempt to rape her.

 

The nationally broadcast press conference was held at Phuket Provincial Police Station, in

He just wanted her money and belongings, he told a press conference broadcast nationally today (Aug 8).

 

Teerawat was arrested by police yesterday for the murder of Ms Sauvain-Weisskopf, whose body was found near the Ao Yon Waterfall on Phuket’s east coast on Thursday (Aug 6).

 

Full story: https://www.thephuketnews.com/sandbox-tourist-killer-confesses-to-attacking-swiss-woman-denies-intent-to-murder-rape-80978.php

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2021-08-09

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[webfact]

Suspect charged with murder and robbery in death of Swiss tourist on Phuket

 

 

The suspect, being held in police custody in connection with the death of a Swiss tourist, told the Thai media today (Sunday) that he only intended to steal her money and only assaulted her when she resisted.

 

The victim, 57-year old Ms. Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf, deputy protocol chief of the Federal Assembly of Germany, was visiting the popular resort island under the Phuket “sandbox” program, which allows the entry of foreign tourists who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and who have tested negative 72 hours before their arrival in Phuket.

 

Her body was found on Thursday, face-down in a creek near the Ton Ao Yon waterfall, about a kilometre from her hotel. Police said she had been dead for about two days.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/suspect-charged-with-murder-and-robbery-in-death-of-swiss-tourist-on-phuket/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-08-09

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow ASEAN NOW on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[RichardColeman]

Poor woman killed for 300 baht ! Can but hope that this piece of detritus never sees the light of day again - and judging by the effect it will have on tourism I'm pretty sure the TAT will push for it

 

 

[smedly]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

He just wanted her money and belongings, he told a press conference broadcast nationally today

so it must have been someone else that beat her, striped her naked, raped her and murdered her, great public message to be sending out - a PR masterpiece 

[cardinalblue]

Again trying to project an image that it wasn’t as bad as what in reality was…

 

worried about lost of face so trying for a soft landing…teach her a lesson for resisting - her fault 

[Gottfrid]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The suspect, being held in police custody in connection with the death of a Swiss tourist, told the Thai media today (Sunday) that he only intended to steal her money and only assaulted her when she resisted.

So, what he is saying is that she didn´t freely give me the bag, which resulted in that I have to use necessary force for her to release the bag in my custody.

[Gottfrid]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

He found 300 baht ($9) in her bag and used it to buy drugs, drinks and phone repairs," he said.

1 yaba pill, 1 lao khao and 100 baht to repair phone. That´s great!

[malibukid]

if your a white female tourist in Thailand, assimilate resistance is futile.

[chang1]

So not raped as previously reported. 

Not a Burmese man as previously reported. 

 

Has all the signs of damage limitation going wrong.  Can we believe anything we are told?

[nobodysfriend]

She was not aware of the dangers of going there alone .

She probably thought , that Thailand is a secure country , but it is not , with far too many who get high on Yaba , Ice , Amphetamines ... and they are everywhere .

It is not like it was 20 yrs ago anymore .

 

[stevenl]

26 minutes ago, chang1 said:

So not raped as previously reported. 

Not a Burmese man as previously reported. 

 

Has all the signs of damage limitation going wrong.  Can we believe anything we are told?

So the suspect says no rape, therefore you believe there was no rape attempt? 

The only source for the 'burmese man's was a tweet and online speculation, officials never said that.

[Dukeleto]

With 300 baht in her bag why would she resist a man when she was alone in a forest? Unfortunately she is deceased and without witnesses the attacker can make up any scenario he likes. If he is indeed the person who killed her he should be hanging from the yard arm already. That would send a crystal clear message to anyone else considering doing the same but of course that won’t happen. Very sad indeed her family must be absolutely devasted.

[chang1]

Someone was saying drugs should be decriminalised, on the "Robin Hood" drug dealer thread, which I can sympathise with if users only ruined their own lives. This is an extreme case of how drugs affect those around the user. 

Assuming money and not rape was the motive here would cheap freely available drugs have saved her life? I doubt it but it is certainly a debate that needs investigating. 

To me drug taking is not a problem as it is their choice and only affects the them. If he/she overdoses it's their fault. 

The problem is how it affects others - partners, children, parents, colleagues and those harmed by the violence and crimes committed and things like drug driving. 

If laws around drug use are relaxed it may reduce the crimes committed to help obtain the drugs but all the other problems will still be their. 

Did this <deleted> kill her to fund his habit or because he was already under the influence? 

There are still crimes committed connected to tobacco and alcohol but you don't hear much about robberies and murders committed by people having a joint or two. 

I can't say I  have a solution but do think crimes committed to feed a drug habit should be treated differently. Stealing a PlayStation to help feed your family is way different to stealing it to feed your habit. One is desperation and the other is desperation but the second is desperation caused by choice. 

Even the risk of a death sentence does little to deter some people so another strategy needs to be found - not because we should care about low life's like this <deleted> but because we care about our wife's, mothers, sisters and daughters!

Edited August 9, 2021 by metisdead
Profane acronyms removed.

[ronster]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

 

"He found 300 baht ($9) in her bag and used it to buy drugs, drinks and phone repairs," he said.

For 300 bht ?? ????

[Pedrogaz]

How sad, how tragically sad. A woman who worked her whole life to be killed for 9 bucks.

[hotchilli]

50 minutes ago, malibukid said:

if your a white female tourist in Thailand, assimilate resistance is futile.

Regardless of colour or genre, if you're a foreigner it's best not to go to isolated places alone, or anywhere in fact where you might attract the wrong attention. 

[ronster]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Police also took the unusual step of having the suspect call in to the press briefing to make a statement.

Just <deleted> !!

So you have a suspect calling in to a press briefing to give a statement and a governor at a vigil saying don’t forget how great our island is etc .

This smacks off oh look how amazing we are that we caught the guy so quickly and it’s definitely him .

Funny how they can’t be so quick to catch rich hi-so criminals despite them being 100% guilty or asking them to turn up at the police station instead of actually going and arresting them !!

Maybe there will be a press conference in a few days and boss will call in for a chat ! ????????????

Edited August 9, 2021 by metisdead
Profane acronym removed.

[malibukid]

5 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

How sad, how tragically sad. A woman who worked her whole life to be killed for 9 bucks.

i think pepper spray is illegal here?

[PEE TEE]

"He found 300 baht ($9) in her bag and used it to buy drugs, drinks and phone repairs," he said. Surely this cannot be right. A very sad thing to happen my thought go out to her family. will be interesting to see the outcome for this low life . RIP lady you did not deserve  this 

[jesimps]

42 minutes ago, chang1 said:

Someone was saying drugs should be decriminalised, on the "Robin Hood" drug dealer thread, which I can sympathise with if users only ruined their own lives. This is an extreme case of how drugs affect those around the user. 

Assuming money and not rape was the motive here would cheap freely available drugs have saved her life? I doubt it but it is certainly a debate that needs investigating. 

To me drug taking is not a problem as it is their choice and only affects the them. If he/she overdoses it's their fault. 

The problem is how it affects others - partners, children, parents, colleagues and those harmed by the violence and crimes committed and things like drug driving. 

If laws around drug use are relaxed it may reduce the crimes committed to help obtain the drugs but all the other problems will still be their. 

Did this <deleted> kill her to fund his habit or because he was already under the influence? 

There are still crimes committed connected to tobacco and alcohol but you don't hear much about robberies and murders committed by people having a joint or two. 

I can't say I  have a solution but do think crimes committed to feed a drug habit should be treated differently. Stealing a PlayStation to help feed your family is way different to stealing it to feed your habit. One is desperation and the other is desperation but the second is desperation caused by choice. 

Even the risk of a death sentence does little to deter some people so another strategy needs to be found - not because we should care about low life's like this <deleted> but because we care about our wife's, mothers, sisters and daughters!

"Even the risk of a death sentence does little to deter some people so another strategy needs to be found..."

 

Maybe, maybe not, but it'd make me feel better if I was a member of her family or a friend. It would also save the taxpayer heaps of money in keeping the scum alive in jail, with the possibility of early realease to do the same to some other poor person.

[chang1]

26 minutes ago, stevenl said:

So the suspect says no rape, therefore you believe there was no rape attempt? 

The only source for the 'burmese man's was a tweet and online speculation, officials never said that.

Both were reported is my point and both now being changed. 

The info on the suspect came from somewhere and included his age. We don't know if a Burmese man was being setup and then suddenly the real perpetrator fell into their laps meaning the original guy had a lucky escape.

As for the rape or attempted rape, why is it not mentioned in the "confession"? despite it being reported he did confess to it earlier. He didn't need to remove her shorts to Rob her or kill her.

Do you not think there is a desire to make things look better and less newsworthy? 

Which would get noticed more murder for money or raped and murdered? 

Which is better for Thailands image abroad and here - this committed by a Thai or a foreigner? Remember the "Thais would never do this" about Ko Tao murders? Then after a headman's son got implicated 2 Burmese lads suddenly "confessed".

The heat is on and face must be saved at all costs and quickly.

[kwak250]

Not sure how true this is but the thai version i have been told by my wife was he was looking for mushrooms when he noticed the  deceased was swimming.

He actually attacked her wanting to rape her and the deceased fought back which is why he has wounds on his body .

He then drowned her and the 300 baht was just an afterthought not his motive at all .

[Tarteso]

It is curious how this time, the international press has had a great impact on the tragedy, perhaps the fact that the victim was a person of high rank and social level had an influence.  I did not see the same repercussion with previous crimes in LOS.

[Scouse123]

3 hours ago, smedly said:

so it must have been someone else that beat her, striped her naked, raped her and murdered her, great public message to be sending out - a PR masterpiece 

He said in interview she was naked from the waist down at the waterfall when he came across her and that no sexual activity took place.

 

However, at this interview were his family and girlfriend, so the truth will be known I should imagine when they have DNA results from Bangkok, and if in fact he is lying.

 

Killing somebody for no other reason than 300 baht, he wants burning on a pyre.

 

He then cries in interview and asks for forgiveness from the Thai people. If all this is true then...........

 

SCUM! that is all he is, pure SCUM.

 

 

 

 

Edited August 9, 2021 by Scouse123

[thaisuki99]

Sad to hear such a tragedy -a murder, rape case- again happened in Thailand!  May God rest her soul in peace!

Edited August 9, 2021 by thaisuki99

[chang1]

27 minutes ago, jesimps said:

"Even the risk of a death sentence does little to deter some people so another strategy needs to be found..."

 

Maybe, maybe not, but it'd make me feel better if I was a member of her family or a friend. It would also save the taxpayer heaps of money in keeping the scum alive in jail, with the possibility of early realease to do the same to some other poor person.

It may make you feel better but I and most people, would feel better if he had not felt attacking her was a good option. Prevention is better than cure and killing him will do little to prevent this happening again. It has been done many times before. 

He is the son of an ex headman so probably had a privileged upbringing. Killing the people who brought him up would send a better signal to others to reduce this type of thing. Look at how women are portrayed on TV here another way violence towards women is normalised. They are full of scenes with women crying and screaming. Education and making women a lot more respected by males would be a good start.

Does having the Ko Tao pair on death row make the victims families feel better while seeing what happened here? 

This is not just a Thai problem either. 

[AlQaholic]

Very little and slim guy, no strength. Only way he could have killed her is by a surprise blow to the back of the head with a blunt object. A little <deleted> like that could never wrestle anything up front.

[Mansell]

1 hour ago, Dukeleto said:

With 300 baht in her bag why would she resist a man when she was alone in a forest? Unfortunately she is deceased and without witnesses the attacker can make up any scenario he likes. If he is indeed the person who killed her he should be hanging from the yard arm already. That would send a crystal clear message to anyone else considering doing the same but of course that won’t happen. Very sad indeed her family must be absolutely devasted.

Where do you get this nonsense from? There is no forest there….you are about a 100 feet from the road…..and when I was there all times of year nowhere to swim because there wasn’t much water. It is a dead end road. It isn’t much of a tourist attraction. I don’t believe she found her way there on her own, she had either been there before or somebody took her there. Much more interesting places close to Ao Yon than that place. Lived there for three years and pretty much hiked the whole area. The whole story sounds like <deleted> made up by the police to me……300 baht…..what woman would lose her life for that pathetic amount? She wasn’t a youngster, and she would have just given him the money. Story has huge holes in it.

[chang1]

35 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

It is curious how this time, the international press has had a great impact on the tragedy, perhaps the fact that the victim was a person of high rank and social level had an influence.  I did not see the same repercussion with previous crimes in LOS.

I think there was a bit of a stir on Ko Tao a few years ago and earlier Taksin went to Samui after a similar case there which was also quickly solved soon after - the perpetrators even had the girls shirt on their boat - conveniently.