Pictured courtesy of Workpoint.

 

The body of a 49-year-old Indian male tourist has been discovered wedged among rocks near Ao Som on the southern side of Koh Samet, with initial investigations revealing his head was bound with a black plastic bag secured by a luggage strap.

 

Police on Koh Samet, located in Moo 4, Phe Subdistrict, Mueang District, Rayong Province, received a report late afternoon on 17 May, regarding the discovery. The body had apparently been washed ashore by the tide. Officers from the island’s patrol unit and rescue workers from the Sawang Phra Kuson Foundation were dispatched to the scene.

 

The body was found in a state of decomposition, indicating the man had been dead for approximately two days. There were no identification documents or personal effects found on the body.

 

According to Mr Khajornsak, a rescue worker who responded to the scene, a local resident reported spotting a body lodged in the rocks at around 17:00. Authorities were immediately notified, and the body was retrieved and brought ashore for further examination.

 

Police forensic teams and a coroner conducted an initial examination on-site and documented the evidence. The body was subsequently transported back to Ban Phe on the mainland.

 

The deceased has been identified as Mr Kakumanu, a 49-year-old Indian national who had been staying at a resort on Koh Samet. Resort staff had earlier reported him missing after being unable to make contact with him. Despite initial search efforts, he remained unaccounted for until his body was discovered floating in the sea near Ao Som.

 

The investigation is ongoing, with police treating the death as suspicious due to the manner in which the body was bound. Authorities are continuing to collect evidence and seek information that could shed light on the circumstances surrounding Mr Kakumanu’s death.

 

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-05-18.

 

 

 

7 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

initial investigations revealing his head was bound with a black plastic bag secured by a luggage strap.

 

Must be suicide then. Case closed.

Troll comment with just an emoji removed. This is a discussion forum.

Absolutely ridiculous treatment by the Police saying the death is "suspicious". It is an outright murder or homicide.

Scary stuff. 

What's going on out there? 

Motive?

 

20 minutes ago, Banana7 said:

Absolutely ridiculous treatment by the Police saying the death is "suspicious". It is an outright murder or homicide.

Would you have preferred the police to say the death is not suspicious?

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

Scary stuff. 

What's going on out there? 

Motive?

 

Gold chains maybe

On 5/18/2025 at 6:59 AM, save the frogs said:

Scary stuff. 

What's going on out there? 

Motive?

 

Yes, give us your assumptions please

On 5/18/2025 at 6:59 AM, save the frogs said:

Scary stuff. 

What's going on out there? 

Motive?

 

Definitely up set someone... 

9 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Definitely up set someone... 

Or set up someone. Mission failed 😔 

Every time you meet someone or do anything for that matter out of your normal routine........you gotta think, go with your gut, and breathe.   A million times I probably should have been beaten for being a punk, and a million times I was quiet when I had to be.....but it only takes one bad decision that leads to more and more and more.    include drinking, partying (on an island, I can speculate), etc... and things go crazy.

 

wrong place, wrong time....   all I can say now until I get more information.  I am curious about how it all started.  Hey buddy, want to share a cab?  Hey buddy, can I ask you a question?  Hey buddy, what are you drinking?  

 

 

 

 

"his head was bound with a black plastic bag secured by a luggage strap"

 

In our building we had a similar situation where an elderly gentleman diagnosed with cancer had tied a plastic bag around his head. Wrote a note of his suicide , left his safe open, and door unlocked. Till this day it's hard me to imagine how one can commit suicide this way.  There has to be better ways.

On 5/18/2025 at 6:52 AM, Banana7 said:

Absolutely ridiculous treatment by the Police saying the death is "suspicious". It is an outright murder or homicide.

 

On 5/18/2025 at 6:52 AM, Banana7 said:

Absolutely ridiculous treatment by the Police saying the death is "suspicious". It is an outright murder or homicide.

At least they are keeping an open mind to what happen instead of saying something else with no proof. For example, sex game gone wrong, he tripped into the bag, was playing blind mans bluff snf fell into the water.

On 5/18/2025 at 6:52 AM, Banana7 said:

Absolutely ridiculous treatment by the Police saying the death is "suspicious". It is an outright murder or homicide.

 

On 5/18/2025 at 6:52 AM, Banana7 said:

Absolutely ridiculous treatment by the Police saying the death is "suspicious". It is an outright murder or homicide.

It seems suspicious to me. Further investigation as a result of that suspicion will hopefully reveal whether it is outright murder and if so, catch the murderer.

 

i don’t think any police force comes out off the bat and says whether a death is murder or not.

hmmm… could be a suicide ?

On 5/18/2025 at 6:07 AM, gargamon said:

Must be suicide then. Case closed.

Its says 'treated as suspicious due to the  way the body was bound'

You know that old adage, if you have nothing good to say.....

 

Surprised?  We should stop counting. The land of smiles doesn't smile any more.

11 hours ago, wensiensheng said:

 

It seems suspicious to me. Further investigation as a result of that suspicion will hopefully reveal whether it is outright murder and if so, catch the murderer.

 

i don’t think any police force comes out off the bat and says whether a death is murder or not.

 

Good point.

Many times, there are accidental deaths and then the people panic and try to dispose of the body.

Even though it wasnt murder. 

But not sure what the laws are about "accidental deaths". 

 

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Yes, give us your assumptions please

I am gonna guess there was some kind of animosity or friction with another person.

I wonder how long this guy was in Thailand for and how he got caught up in something that ended up getting him killed in such a short time.  Must be good old Thai hospitality.

On 5/18/2025 at 11:52 AM, Banana7 said:

Absolutely ridiculous treatment by the Police saying the death is "suspicious". It is an outright murder or homicide.

 

On 5/18/2025 at 11:52 AM, Banana7 said:

Absolutely ridiculous treatment by the Police saying the death is "suspicious". It is an outright murder or homicide.

Says two things, the police are lazy, and will call it a suicide, or they dont want to catch the perps

Remember that you can hang with your hands tied behind you back in LOS and be called a suicide.

Things not looking good for tourists numbers.

27 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

Good point.

Many times, there are accidental deaths and then the people panic and try to dispose of the body.

Even though it wasnt murder. 

But not sure what the laws are about "accidental deaths". 

 

Then no need for the plastic bag and baggage tie.

On 5/18/2025 at 7:14 AM, MalcolmB said:

Would you have preferred the police to say the death is not suspicious?

Mabe saying they are treating this as a suspected murder case would be more appropriate?

A silly troll post has been removed

On 5/18/2025 at 6:52 AM, Banana7 said:

Absolutely ridiculous treatment by the Police saying the death is "suspicious". It is an outright murder or homicide.

cool your jets, its standard language. Save your indignation for something real. Murder is found play

18 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

 

Says two things, the police are lazy, and will call it a suicide, or they dont want to catch the perps

Remember that you can hang with your hands tied behind you back in LOS and be called a suicide.

Things not looking good for tourists numbers.

When has that happened?

On 5/18/2025 at 7:14 AM, MalcolmB said:

Would you have preferred the police to say the death is not suspicious?

Suicide 

27 minutes ago, Mark Hopkins said:

Mabe saying they are treating this as a suspected murder case would be more appropriate?

Suicide 

31 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

 

Says two things, the police are lazy, and will call it a suicide, or they dont want to catch the perps

Remember that you can hang with your hands tied behind you back in LOS and be called a suicide.

Things not looking good for tourists numbers.

Ah, the old "nail in the coffin of the tourist industry" favourite.

On 5/18/2025 at 5:59 AM, Georgealbert said:

revealing his head was bound with a black plastic bag secured by a luggage strap.

 

I thought Jo Ferrari was dead!