Crime Labour Dispute Turns Deadly as Worker Kills Employer, Hides Body in Chiang Mai Forest

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Amarin

 

A murder in the remote highlands of Mae Chaem district, Chiang Mai has shocked the local community, after a worker allegedly killed his employer over unpaid wages, hid the body in a forest and fled with the victim’s motorbike and mobile phone.

 

Police were alerted to the incident on 27 June when Pol. Lt. Padungsak Chaiyo, an investigative officer from Mae Chaem Police Station, received a report of a suspicious death in the mountainous farming area of Ban Mae Satop Tai, Moo 3, Mae Suek Subdistrict.

 

Due to the isolated location, a joint investigative team including police detectives and a forensic doctor from Theparat Wechayanukul Hospital had to trek several hours on foot to reach the scene.

 

Upon arrival, officers discovered the body of Mr. Boonchuay aged 57, lying near his hillside plantation. Evidence at the scene suggested he had been struck on the forehead with a blunt object. A piece of firewood, suspected to be the murder weapon was found near the body.

 

According to Pol. Col. Statichai Nitiyawan, superintendent of Mae Chaem Police Station, Mr. Boonchuay had gone to work on his remote farm around 09:00 on 26 June. When his son, Mr. Songsuk, 32, was unable to contact him by the afternoon of 27 June, he travelled to the plantation and discovered his father’s lifeless body.

 

Investigators suspect that a dispute over unpaid wages was the motive behind the attack. Two Karen workers, who had recently been employed by Mr. Boonchuay, are now missing. They are believed to have fled the scene with the victim’s red Honda Wave motorcycle, registration number from Chiang Mai and his mobile phone.

 

Preliminary autopsy results confirm that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head. The body has been transported to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital’s Forensic Department for further examination.

 

Police have launched a manhunt for the two suspects and collected evidence from the scene, including photographs and topographical details, to build a stronger case.

 

Authorities have vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice and are urging anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects to come forward.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Amarin 2025-06-29