A 66-year-old man has been found dead following a violent assault captured on CCTV in Khao Saming district, Trat, with police arresting a 32-year-old suspect after a manhunt. The victim, Boonyu Samjai, was discovered dead on Wednesday morning 1 July 2026, after allegedly being beaten, transported away from the scene and abandoned.

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Police said the attack happened at about 5.30pm on Tuesday as Mr Boonyu was taking his usual exercise along Soi Nak Prasit in tambon Thung Nonsi. Investigators identified the suspect as Withawat “Mos” Tanghu, who allegedly confronted the victim, asking why he was looking at him before a brief argument turned violent.

CCTV footage shows the suspect punching Mr Boonyu before repeatedly striking him over the head with a wooden stick. Police said that even after bystanders attempted to intervene, the suspect briefly left, returned carrying a bamboo pole and struck the elderly man several more times while he lay motionless on the ground.

Investigators said the suspect then rode to his nearby durian orchard before returning with a blue motorcycle sidecar. CCTV later captured him loading the unconscious victim into the sidecar and driving away before police and rescue workers arrived at the scene.

Officers searching the suspect’s orchard, about 750 metres from the attack site, found bloodstains, a handgun and a shotgun but no trace of the victim. Rescue divers were also deployed to search a nearby pond after investigators suspected the body may have been disposed of there.

Following a manhunt, police arrested Withawat at 11.05pm on Tuesday at a house near Wat Bamron in Muang district. During questioning at Khao Saming police station, he denied disposing of the victim’s body, claiming instead that Mr Boonyu had jumped from the sidecar, but investigators said he gave inconsistent statements and refused to reveal where he had abandoned the vehicle.

Picture courtesy of Daily News

At 10.10am on Wednesday, police found Mr Boonyu’s naked body in a rubber plantation in Moo 3 of tambon Thung Nonsi, about 1.8 kilometres from where the assault took place. The area was sealed for forensic examination before the body was sent for an autopsy.

Authorities later recovered the submerged motorcycle sidecar from the Ta Kad reservoir in neighbouring Huai Raeng subdistrict, about 5.8 kilometres from where the body was found. Investigators also seized a blue plastic container from the vehicle and are examining whether it was used to transport the body, although no conclusions have been reached.

Mr Boonyu’s sister, Ratsami Samjai, 55, said her brother had moved to the area less than a year ago, regularly exercised and did not know the suspect. “I want the perpetrator to face the consequences of what he has done,” she said.

A local resident told reporters he had unknowingly helped the suspect evade police after giving a lift to a man who claimed his vehicle had run out of fuel, only later realising he was the person officers were seeking. Village headman Phongsan Kruapinchai said the suspect also slipped through a police checkpoint by riding in a local resident’s sidecar because officers did not recognise him.

Daily News reported that police are continuing to investigate the motive for the attack and are examining reports that the suspect had a history of involvement with drugs.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 2 July 2026

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Trat seemed such a peaceful place !

I guess there was a reason he kept returning to beat the man. Can't think what he was thinking of in front of witnesses.

There are so many cruel crimes in this country everyday.

This is a screenshot from Today's newsletter.

First two bad headlines and then one claiming Thailand to be a perfect country for retirement.

Well this poor man who recently moved there had probably another opinion if he could answer.

R.I.P.

59 minutes ago, hanbla said:

There are so many cruel crimes in this country everyday.

This is a screenshot from Today's newsletter.

First two bad headlines and then one claiming Thailand to be a perfect country for retirement.

Well this poor man who recently moved there had probably another opinion if he could answer.

R.I.P.

Thailand has a very similar homicide rate to America, almost identical, per capita.

The difference here is that 99.9% of it is Thai on Thai, so it makes Thailand infinitely safer for us than America. Many homicides and mass murders in the US are random, and that's just not the case here. I feel infinitely safer in Thailand than I do in most large American cities.

Wow....all he was doing is what I do every morning, take a nice walk.

Meth head crack addict lost it. RIP Khun Boonyu, wrong place, wrong time.

Yeah, if you encounter someone who is sick of their lives and desperate, that could be the end of you.

Sad stuff, attacking an innocent elderly man just because you can't manage your own finances, manage your marriage, drug addictions, gambling addictions.

Yet locals stand watching the old guy getting battered and make no effort to stop it.

...'Cruel'...(?)

...'Violent'...(?)

...This...And Many Similar Savage Acts...Go Beyond Either...Or Both Combined...

...This Is Clearly Indicative Of A Deep-Seated Mental 'Abberation'...

...Social...Moral...Educational...Nutritional...Emotional Factors...Or Their Absence...

...And...It Is Rampant...

2 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Thailand has a very similar homicide rate to America, almost identical, per capita.

The difference here is that 99.9% of it is Thai on Thai, so it makes Thailand infinitely safer for us than America. Many homicides and mass murders in the US are random, and that's just not the case here. I feel infinitely safer in Thailand than I do in most large American cities.

Mass murders happen here, and have all along. Thailand's people kill over very minor things, fragile egos and such, and most of the homicides in America are gang related. Most are also someone the person knew, domestic violence being a large one. Only about 15% are strangers. People who live in villages anywhere are safer than big cities, along with those who rarely leave their homes.

Off topic post removed @BarraMarra discuss the topic not other posters.

Rule 10. You will not post troll messages. Trolling is the act of purposefully antagonizing forum members by posting controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages with the primary intent of provoking other members into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

How can other people just stand by and watch someone being beaten to death?

There were plenty of people there who could have intervened.

Is this what Thailand has become?

I’m simply speechless.

The onlookers must have had a reason, why they did not intervene.

5 minutes ago, Beat666 said:

How can other people just stand by and watch someone being beaten to death?

There were plenty of people there who could have intervened.

Is this what Thailand has become?

I’m simply speechless.

The onlookers must have had a reason, why they did not intervene.

Probably bystander (or Genovese) effect.

We're all prone to it.

And as a farang you're really sticking your neck out to get involved in Thai on Thai disputes - especially 'domestics'.

4 minutes ago, BusyB said:

Probably bystander (or Genovese) effect.

We're all prone to it.

And as a farang you're really sticking your neck out to get involved in Thai on Thai disputes - especially 'domestics'.

Yes, you're absolutely right about that.

My late wife and I managed a small Thai restaurant in Nakhon Sawan. Emotions often ran high when guests overindulged in alcohol, occasionally resulting in mistreatment or abuse of women. Whenever I defended those at risk, I would face criticism for getting involved—and this from both sides.

Since those times, I've refrained from engaging in such disputes.

However, this particular incident is so horrific that it is simply incomprehensible that no one dared to confront the aggressor.

Yeah, likely a positive drugs test there along with breath-taking face issues and entitlement mixed with the usual superiourity complex and hair-trigger mentality. Hope he gets taken out of society for a long time. Also bad that no-one helped the victim and could only be bothered to film it.

7 hours ago, hanbla said:

There are so many cruel crimes in this country everyday.

This is a screenshot from Today's newsletter.

First two bad headlines and then one claiming Thailand to be a perfect country for retirement.

Well this poor man who recently moved there had probably another opinion if he could answer.

R.I.P.

Ehhhh he was a Thai not a farang. He had just moved to the area.

The world is going mad.

Today, just looking or staring at somebody can get you harshly thrashed or worse,

Better maybe to refrain from making useless comments to strangers or staring at them.

Condoleances for the tragedy.

Off topic post removed @BarraMarra discuss the topic not other posters.

Rule 10. You will not post troll messages. Trolling is the act of purposefully antagonizing forum members by posting controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages with the primary intent of provoking other members into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion.

3 hours ago, Reddavy said:

Ehhhh he was a Thai not a farang. He had just moved to the area.

I know. So what is your point? It's a cruel crime, as far as what I understand he was retired, even though he was Thai.

9 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

Thailand has a very similar homicide rate to America, almost identical, per capita.

The difference here is that 99.9% of it is Thai on Thai, so it makes Thailand infinitely safer for us than America. Many homicides and mass murders in the US are random, and that's just not the case here. I feel infinitely safer in Thailand than I do in most large American cities.

I'm from Europe and yes, I feel safe here too. But I saw this newsletter. Claiming Thailand as a perfect retirement destination, and just before that two headlines telling maybe it is not.

I don't recall this has ever happened to me.

So, still a great place to retire, at any age.

What is it they say?

Sticks and stones will break my bones?

9 hours ago, hanbla said:

I know. So what is your point? It's a cruel crime, as far as what I understand he was retired, even though he was Thai.

I'm from Europe and yes, I feel safe here too. But I saw this newsletter. Claiming Thailand as a perfect retirement destination, and just before that two headlines telling maybe it is not.

Everyday I appreciate the fact that I chose Thailand as a place to retire, had I been very wealthy there could have been other spots that I would have chosen. But on a decent but limited income it fits the bill on so many levels.

13 hours ago, SingAPorn said:

The world is going mad.

Today, just looking or staring at somebody can get you harshly thrashed or worse,

Better maybe to refrain from making useless comments to strangers or staring at them.

Condoleances for the tragedy.

There is some truth to that. I used to be a bit more aggressive with rude drivers on the road, but my woman has helped the reign me in, and has advised me that on uncertain occasions, with the wrong person, all bets are off.

so he beat him to death , rode off,,, and everyone what just left the poor sod lying there ? and then he comes back and everyone just watches and lets him take away the poor sod ?

It really is a “Mad Mad World” these days. RIP.

From what is shown the attacker had only a stick. In the photo and video there are lots of sticks on the ground near the altercation. Some are close to the onlookers. Why nobody thought to pick up a stick and intervene is beyond me.

On 7/2/2026 at 9:11 AM, Beat666 said:

The onlookers must have had a reason, why they did not intervene.

I'm wondering if he's some sort of local mafia boss type, and they were frightened of reprisals.

Can't think of any other reason why nobody helped the poor old fella.

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12 hours ago, bhatmasterson said:

From what is shown the attacker had only a stick. In the photo and video there are lots of sticks on the ground near the altercation. Some are close to the onlookers. Why nobody thought to pick up a stick and intervene is beyond me.

I suppose you could put it down to cultural differences.

Having been in Thailand almost 2 decades, it doesn't surprise me at all.

They are very much an "if it doesnt affect me, I don't care" kind of people.

Obviously, the guy's family or friends weren't there.

That's Thainess for ya

On 7/2/2026 at 2:09 AM, Purdey said:

I guess there was a reason he kept returning to beat the man. Can't think what he was thinking of in front of witnesses.

I agree- but then there is very little logic in such violence in any event - so rational thoughts perhaps cannot be applied her

RIP for the poor victim