Community Elderly Man 73, Drowns After Faking Robbery and Stabbing Incident

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of  Workpoint.

 

A 73-year-old man who falsely claimed to have been stabbed and robbed has been found dead after apparently taking his own life by drowning, police have confirmed.

 

The deceased, identified only as Mr Nikhom, had earlier told police he was attacked by an assailant who stabbed him in the chest and stole 3,000 baht in cash and a mobile phone. However, officers became suspicious due to inconsistencies in his injuries and statements.

 

Upon further questioning, Mr Nikhom admitted he had fabricated the entire story. Police had prepared to charge him with filing a false police report.

 

On 25 June, family members filed a missing person report after he failed to return home. Later that day, his shoes and other signs were discovered near a disused soil pit in the Ban Nong Si Chaeng area of Saraphi district, Chiang Mai. Rescue divers were called in and subsequently located his body submerged in the water.

 

Pol Col Jiraphat Saksung, superintendent of Saraphi Police Station, said initial investigations suggest the man took his own life out of shame and stress caused by the incident. No signs of a struggle were found and a post-mortem examination is being conducted at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital to determine the precise cause of death.

 

Police believe this is most likely suicide, citing emotional distress and public humiliation as likely contributing factors.

 

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai) or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress or depression. Seek out help.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Workpoint 2025-06-27

 

 

 

[Georgealbert]