A 23-year-old Myanmar construction worker has been arrested after allegedly dousing a fellow worker in petrol, setting him alight and beating him to death at a workers’ camp in Samut Prakan in the early hours of 17 February 2026.

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Police at Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station were alerted to the killing at around 2am at a construction camp on Phraeksa Road in Phraeksa subdistrict, Mueang district. Officers, investigators and rescue workers from Ruamkatanyu Foundation Samut Prakan attended the scene.

The victim, identified as Mr. Tunkhaing, 27, a Myanmar national, was found lying face down in a pool of blood in the central area in front of the workers’ accommodation. His skull had been crushed by a blunt object and his body bore blistering burns consistent with being set on fire.

Pictures courtesy of Amarin

The suspect, Mr. Wailinsoe, 23, also a Myanmar national and construction worker at the same site, remained at the scene and surrendered to police. Officers sealed off the area and notified senior commanders, while forensic officers and a forensic pathologist were called to examine the body.

Prasart Jittritot, a rescue worker with Phraeksa Municipality, said he received a report of a person unconscious after being burned. On arrival, he found the victim with severe head injuries and burns, including peeling skin on the left arm, and confirmed he was already unconscious before police arrived and took over the investigation.

Through an interpreter, the suspect told officers that he had gone to bed at 11pm but the victim continued drinking alcohol and shouting abuse at others in the camp. He said he had asked the victim to stop as others were sleeping, but claimed the victim continued to speak provocatively.

The suspect further alleged that shortly after midnight the victim kicked metal sheeting near his room. He said he tried to intervene but eventually poured petrol over the victim, set him on fire and struck him with a metal bar until he lost consciousness.

Police have taken the suspect into custody for further questioning at Mueang Samut Prakan Police Station. He is facing a charge of murder as the investigation continues.

Key Takeaways

• A 27-year-old Myanmar worker was killed in a petrol and blunt-force attack at a Samut Prakan construction camp at 2am on 17 February 2026.

• The 23-year-old suspect remained at the scene and surrendered to police, admitting the assault through an interpreter.

• Police have charged the suspect with murder and are continuing their investigation.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 18 Feb 2026

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Someone accused me of generalizing and stereotyping when I mentioned Asians and a lack of self control in the article about the American brandishing the knife being killed. Well, here's another example of many we see on here.

Lad could use some anger management.

They do things differently in Burma.

6 hours ago, dinsdale said:

Someone accused me of generalizing and stereotyping when I mentioned Asians and a lack of self control in the article about the American brandishing the knife being killed. Well, here's another example of many we see on here.

Particularly the Burmese...they're another kind of crazy when the SHTF. I've seen all sorts of things even in the border town of Myawaddy, which you would almost never see over on the other side of the border in Thailand. It's like there are two completely different worlds separated just by a narrow river that nearly dries up during the dry season.

Burmese aren't a monolithic group...they encompass different ethnic groups, but many of them (regardless of ethnicity) are far more confrontational than Thais and are much more aggressive too (when push comes to shove, that is). I've witnessed angry Burmese drivers honk persistently for minutes when a selfish Burmese motorist parked his vehicle in such a way as to obscure traffic near the Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge on the Burmese side, then almost attack him when he finally came back to his vehicle (he didn't apologize for what he did). Luckily, I wasn't crossing the border that day, or I wouldn't have made it (since it was already evening). Of course, I am referring to the pre-Covid period, when the border was open to foreigners (currently, it's not).

I also experienced pure selfishness when a Burmese guy blocked my vehicle at a hotel in Myawaddy on another occasion. After getting nowhere by politely knocking on his door to get him to move the vehicle (he never came out), I started honking and even that didn't convince him. It took maybe 10 minutes for him to come out and move his vehicle. He never apologized for his actions and this was after the hotel staff came to his door to tell him to move his car!

Many Thais are fed up with increasing criminality and the incredible sense of entitlement that many Burmese who live in or visit Thailand express. Most Thais in the comments sections of any news article, be in on Facebook, YouTube, Thai social media etc. want them gone.

Cambodians aren't nearly as bad, despite anti-Cambodian rhetoric currently being "politically correct" in Thailand, but comparatively speaking, Burmese cause far more problems than Cambodians ever caused on Thai soil.

With the current tensions, it's difficult to convince some Thais that Cambodians aren't their enemy and there are many nationalities that are worse in terms of the problems they create. I'm not saying the Burmese are...I'm simply saying that due to various factors, cultural, the sheer numbers of Burmese in Thailand (even before the Thai-Cambodian conflict, there were already around 10 Burmese for every 1 Cambodian in Thailand) and the hopelessness many Burmese feel about their homeland...plus decades of war and instability in many parts of the country.

For me, what stands out here is not the nationality of those involved, but the sheer level of violence described.

By his own alleged account, the suspect did not simply react in the heat of the moment, he went far beyond by using petrol, fire, and then a blunt object. This is something that is sustained, and extreme, rather than a brief scuffle that got out of hand.

Even if the victim was drunk and abusive, in no way does it justify such a disproportionate act. The brutality of the method is what makes this case particularly disturbing. It should also serve as a sobering reminder to all foreigners in Thailand that excessive drinking and abusive behaviour can escalate unpredictably and, in the worst cases, lead to very serious and irreversible consequences.

Ultimately, this is an individual act of murder carried out in a volatile environment. I don't think it is fair to suggest that it is a behavioural trait tied to nationality. If proof of this is needed, one only needs to visit the link "Man-kills-friend-with-tractor-part-after-drinking-dispute " in the Related stories above.

On 2/18/2026 at 5:38 AM, Georgealbert said:

construction worker

Working all day in the hot sun, finally some sleep at night.

Then this noise marker , I understand why he did it.

500 B fine and a wai .

On 2/18/2026 at 8:56 AM, dinsdale said:

Someone accused me of generalizing and stereotyping when I mentioned Asians and a lack of self control in the article about the American brandishing the knife being killed. Well, here's another example of many we see on here.

This is the second murder involving Myanmarians this week .It proves one thing that you are best to steer clear of these dudes.Not only did he set his mate on fire he smashed his head in just to make sure.

20 hours ago, Jim Waldron said:

For me, what stands out here is not the nationality of those involved, but the sheer level of violence described.

By his own alleged account, the suspect did not simply react in the heat of the moment, he went far beyond by using petrol, fire, and then a blunt object. This is something that is sustained, and extreme, rather than a brief scuffle that got out of hand.

Even if the victim was drunk and abusive, in no way does it justify such a disproportionate act. The brutality of the method is what makes this case particularly disturbing. It should also serve as a sobering reminder to all foreigners in Thailand that excessive drinking and abusive behaviour can escalate unpredictably and, in the worst cases, lead to very serious and irreversible consequences.

Ultimately, this is an individual act of murder carried out in a volatile environment. I don't think it is fair to suggest that it is a behavioural trait tied to nationality. If proof of this is needed, one only needs to visit the link "Man-kills-friend-with-tractor-part-after-drinking-dispute " in the Related stories above.

I agree totally- clearly the suspect knew what he was doing- and still did it!

On 2/17/2026 at 11:56 PM, dinsdale said:

Someone accused me of generalizing and stereotyping when I mentioned Asians and a lack of self control in the article about the American brandishing the knife being killed. Well, here's another example of many we see on here.

Thais cant calm down before they kill the person they arguing with.Even family..they kill brother..father.. mother..sister etc.

3 hours ago, FlorC said:

Working all day in the hot sun, finally some sleep at night.

Then this noise marker , I understand why he did it.

500 B fine and a wai .

Nonsense. He's not Thai...the penalties will be massive.

2 hours ago, wavodavo said:

This is the second murder involving Myanmarians this week .

Is that a real word?

I've only ever known them as Burmese!

On 2/18/2026 at 5:56 AM, dinsdale said:

Someone accused me of generalizing and stereotyping when I mentioned Asians and a lack of self control in the article about the American brandishing the knife being killed. Well, here's another example of many we see on here.

Well, it's human nature - it's hard NOT to generalize and stereotype, especially if information sources are limited geographically and facts in limited supply. I'm American, and from where I sit I see equal amounts of equally horrendous crimes happening in the US and every other "civilized" country. Mexico and South America are probably the worst of the worst.

1 hour ago, Scouse123 said:

Is that a real word?

I've only ever known them as Burmese!

if it was a real word it would be Myanmarans. Sounds like some 50s movie aliens. "The Invasion Of The Myanmarans of Venus". Maybe just call em Martians for short

Astonishing at the evil a human being is capable of.

This is on a whole new level of payback for a drunk making a noise.

Very sad. I can't imagine being able to do this to another human being. Unfortunately, humans historically (and currently in someplaces) seem to be capable of influencing horrible violence on one another.

16 hours ago, Issan girl said:

Very sad. I can't imagine being able to do this to another human being. Unfortunately, humans historically (and currently in someplaces) seem to be capable of influencing horrible violence on one another.

Yeah,

The older I get, the less I like people.

On 2/19/2026 at 8:43 PM, Scouse123 said:

Astonishing at the evil a human being is capable of.

This is on a whole new level of payback for a drunk making a noise.

I was thinking the same thing, but about the drunk! How many of his former workmates miss having an az hole like that around. Bet the camp is quiet now and the men are getting a good night's sleep.

If there's a gofundme for the firestarter I'll be the first to contribute.