Female Japanese Tourist Robbed And Murdered In Sukhothai

[Foggy Bottom]

Her body had three stab wounds to the neck and one to the waist. Pol Colonel Somboon Tantrakool, a forensic expert, said there was evidence indicating "signs of sexual violation" but it would take another week for lab tests to confirm them.

3 stab wounds to the neck - indicates an amateur - i.e. not someone with infantry training or it would have been a single side-to-side slice cutting the windpipe and jugular in one movement (also preventing a scream from the victim). Also implies some frenzy involved (repeated stabbing) rather than a single calculated attempt.

Sexual violation is usually determined within minutes when a rape victim walks into a western hospital - is this going to become another Kirsty Jones style implanted-semen bought from a khatoey type merry-go-round? Could the semen have come from the person they stayed with between 2am and 7am? (see below)

Kawashita returned to the guesthouse at around 2am to move her luggage to an unknown location. She was seen next at 7am renting a bicycle from a shop known as "Rerng Phoolpherm".

Key clue there - c'mon BiB - where was she between 2am and 7am? Who did she stay with? Were there other Japanese tourists she teamed up with? Or did she (shock horror) find a boyfriend for the night? In a completely strange town, why switch accomodation at 2am - had an unsavoury type followed her back to the guest house and made her take fright? What have the guest house staff and night-time security guard got to say on the subject? Did she use a taxi. Who saw her walking the streets carring luggage? Where did she have breakfast?

Police questioned a group of six Thai male high school students seen with Kawashita while they were all entering the Park on Saturday evening. The questioning continued throughout Sunday night and the students were allowed to go home when police said they were not suspects.

Police later obtained video clips shot with the students' mobile-phone handsets to try to find clues to the murderer, but admitted it was difficult as many thousands of people had visited the site.

No Sh1t Sherlock!

A police source, quoting private security personnel, said no vehicles or motorcycles had entered the Park, indicating the murderer could be a local, who possibly killed her between 9am and 10.30am on Sunday.

I think he meant to use the word "patsy".

Unless the DNA (with 2nd opinion from Japan) confirms it was not just a Thai, but the specific one that eventually ends up in the frame, not many on this board are going to swallow that one?

The site where Kawashita's body was found was an isolated spot, indicating the murderer could have been waiting in an ambush to rob her, or to rob and rape her, said the source.

..... or may have spotted her heading off alone and followed her, and may or may not have been another tourist, or maybe the person(s)(?) she stayed with between 2am and 7am? An ambush by definition presupposes knowledge of a target or victim coming along that route within a known period. Had she arranged to meet someone there? Why did she peel off from the six schoolkids? What decided her to head off to such a remote location away from the main attractions (it is a fair way off - I've been there and took a car due to the distance, but then I'm lazy).

Kom Chad Luek newspaper said Kawashita had about Bt3,000 in her pocket when her body was found. There is no immediate information about whether her camera she carried was found with the body.

Camera - did I mention that before? What, or rather who, is in the photo's on it - find the camera and you'll be a long way towards solving this one is my guess.

[qualtrough]

In the usa this is daily routine story.

Actually, it's not a daily routine story in the states. Whenever there is serious violence against tourists like this one, it is major news. There is a lot of family violence and other sorts of violence against citizens, but then again, we are not concerned with throw-away, meaningless comments, are we, bangkokdenied? Because if we were, we could easily compare different types of violence and frequencies in a systemic fashion to show that it really isn't all the same. We also have the issue uneven and incomparable crime reports, more accurate statistics (or in the case of Thailand, statistics, period), and honest reporting.

So, your comment is as meaningless and useless as your thinking.

Newsflash for you Kat. This is major news in all the Thai papers and on TV and radio. Do you read those, or just get your info from the forum and the Bangkok Post? Do you even live here? How could you not know that?

Edited November 26, 2007 by qualtrough

[kat]

In the usa this is daily routine story.

Actually, it's not a daily routine story in the states. Whenever there is serious violence against tourists like this one, it is major news. There is a lot of family violence and other sorts of violence against citizens, but then again, we are not concerned with throw-away, meaningless comments, are we, bangkokdenied? Because if we were, we could easily compare different types of violence and frequencies in a systemic fashion to show that it really isn't all the same. We also have the issue uneven and incomparable crime reports, more accurate statistics (or in the case of Thailand, statistics, period), and honest reporting.

So, your comment is as meaningless and useless as your thinking.

Newsflash for you Kat. This is major news in all the Thai papers and on TV and radio. Do you read those, or just get your info from the forum and the Bangkok Post? Do you even live here? How could you not know that?

Reading comprehension flash for you: I am not commenting on whether or not this story was covered, but rather on judging two asymmetrical situations with shallow, superficial comparisons.

[meom]

First, I want to say that this is a horrible tragedy, and my condolences go out to her family and loved ones. I sincerely grieve and hate to hear about these kinds of crimes against women.

Ive posted several times how Japanese women are targets in this country. My own girlfriend has been vicimised many times and her friends have been raped and or robbed. One left for dead on the side of the road, guess she should be thankful her throat wasn't slashed and she could recover after a 2 month hospital stay.

Damian

Yes, you do Damian, and I'm usually right there with you, because the way I see the issue, it is much too simplistic to say "Asian and Japanese women over here, and Western white women over there" when it comes to crime. If there is this much crime against Asian or Western women on a continual basis, then it is crime against WOMEN, full stop. I find it disturbing that many people on this board seek to minimize the scope of this issue, simply because they are concerned about "image" and how this will reflect on the culture where they have chosen to build their lives. And, when you have the combination of cultural mores and norms, lax security and regulatory enforcements, and a judicial system based on status and nepotism, then yes, we are indeed talking about CULTURE.

Pity for the girl indeed.

Regarding crime against women Japan itself is pretty high on the list with tens of thousand Thai women working as bonded labor in the Japanese entertainment industry.

[kat]

First, I want to say that this is a horrible tragedy, and my condolences go out to her family and loved ones. I sincerely grieve and hate to hear about these kinds of crimes against women.

Ive posted several times how Japanese women are targets in this country. My own girlfriend has been vicimised many times and her friends have been raped and or robbed. One left for dead on the side of the road, guess she should be thankful her throat wasn't slashed and she could recover after a 2 month hospital stay.

Damian

Yes, you do Damian, and I'm usually right there with you, because the way I see the issue, it is much too simplistic to say "Asian and Japanese women over here, and Western white women over there" when it comes to crime. If there is this much crime against Asian or Western women on a continual basis, then it is crime against WOMEN, full stop. I find it disturbing that many people on this board seek to minimize the scope of this issue, simply because they are concerned about "image" and how this will reflect on the culture where they have chosen to build their lives. And, when you have the combination of cultural mores and norms, lax security and regulatory enforcements, and a judicial system based on status and nepotism, then yes, we are indeed talking about CULTURE.

Pity for the girl indeed.

Regarding crime against women Japan itself is pretty high on the list with tens of thousand Thai women working as bonded labor in the Japanese entertainment industry.

Yep, no arguments there, as well as the very real influence that Japanese porn has in SEA, because a lot of other porn is banned. But, that is off topic.

[Ieyuhrah]

In post#79, Stepenwolf1958 asked if K=1000. Yes. What I did was to take the (reported) 2006 crime stats for the US and convert the % to hypothetical equivalent numbers for the population of Thailand & then of BKK. What I was wondering was how those projected numbers compared to the stats in official reports there. As properly pointed out, I do understand that many crimes (everywhere) go unreported and like in 'small villiages', some things get taken care of 'in house'. I in no way meant that the projected numbers for Thailand should be considered actual stats. Just giving some numbers and asking for an apples to apples comparison from anyone there. My thanks, Ieyuhrah~

[chinthee]

Yes, I also pity her...but at the same time, I know of many Japanese women who come and solicit Thai beach boys in Thailand for thrills. This is not as simple as it seems....

[kat]

Yes, I also pity her...but at the same time, I know of many Japanese women who come and solicit Thai beach boys in Thailand for thrills. This is not as simple as it seems....

Ok, wait a minute: first of all, that is wild speculation in this case so far, and secondly, that in no way justifies murder or assault, under any circumstances.

[chinthee]

^No, of course not, nothing justifies murder, but I do know of Japanese women behaviour in the beach communities of Thailand. I have seen it first-hand. And that have a reputation unique in Thailand among tourist women, sorry to say....

Edited November 26, 2007 by chinthee

[kat]

... In Indonesia as well, but a lot of this is also fed by the selective distribution of porn. I travelled through Indonesia with a Japanese woman, and it was a hair-raising experience. She also informed me of the Japanese porn issue, and of the fact that many Japanese women pick up local guys.

However, again, the line is also blurred between consensual behavior and assault.

[chinthee]

^Ok, where would you like to draw the line? 3 Japanese women travel together to Phuket. They hang around at Patong Beach. They befriend the jet-ski boys. What happens next has nothing to do with distribution of Japanese Porn. It's consensual and in some cases predatory on the part of the Japanese women.

Edited November 26, 2007 by chinthee

[kat]

I would draw the line between that story and this one, because I fail to see how consensual sex should lead to rape and murder.

[chinthee]

The unfortunate victim here was slain. We don't know any more than that. It's certainly on the face of it a terrible murder. Yet, how many Japanese women come here to profer themselves in one way or another? Can we examine that as a contributing proximate cause to her murder or not? I know this is heretical to suggest, but it does happen. Do you ignore the possibility?

[LaoPo]

Japanese woman slain in Sukhothai

A Japanese tourist has been found murdered in Sukhothai province, where she was visiting a Loy Krathong festival over the weekend.

Tomoko Kawashita, 27, was found dead at around 1pm on Sunday in a small jungle near Wat Saphan Hin. She was last seen at 7am on Sunday while renting a bicycle from a shop in Muang Kao urban area.

Wat Saphan Hin* is to the far left where the hills start. (small circle indicates a photo on Google Earth).

It's ca. 2 Km from the far West side of the large Square Old city of Sukothai. It's quite remote indeed.

Wat Saphan Hin

"Wat Saphan Hin is in a forest area.............. situated on a hill 200 meters above the ground.A slate road leads to a chapel made of thick brick. A Buddha image 12.50 meters high in the Prathan Aphai posture stands elegantly in the compound facing to the east. This awesome image is called Phra Attarot.On the way up the hill,one can see on the left-hand side a petite lotus-shaped chedi. A panoramic view of ancient Sukhothai and its luscious forest can be enjoned from the wat."

From: fortunecity website

LaoPo

[kat]

*Chinthee: ^

I think there are often multiple variables that can and do suggest specific patterns, on both ends of the spectrum.

But, until we know the details of this particular case, we are speculating.

Edited November 26, 2007 by kat

[Boo]

and until we hear anything different there is no proof this poor women was proferring herself to anyone & in facts as have been reported, had cycyled out to a local tourist attraction during the daylight hours so hardly flinging herself provactively at beach boys now is it?? so lets keep that discussion off this thread & stay on topic please.

[adventure]

I travel a lot because of my job, and see a lot a peoples reactions around the world. The perception that Thai people are lovely people "The land of smile" is not there no more, it is getting a reputation as a very dangerous place to visit. Agree with the some people someone will be caught very quickly probably not the right person, but does not change the present attitude of the youth of Thailand, two murders in phuket last week that I know about

[Mujjiman]

Codolonces to the girls loved ones, I am not suprised the Tha youth are getting dissafected they have a view of the West we have everthing they have nothing.

That fact alone has awalys brought trouble, Los is changing if the education is poor and the opportunities what will they do, well sadly join gangs take yabba and do bad crimes.

Its bad but not suprising, Thaksin has bought a UK football club with whos money ?

[Bkkthebest]

Japanese tourist slain at ancient capital

The ancient ruins of Sukhothai, which was Thailand's main kingdom between 1250 to 1376, is a major tourist draw during the Loy Krathong festival, observed in Thailand on the night of the full moon in November by floating small vessels with candles and decorations in lakes, ponds and rivers to carry away one's sins.

-- DPA 2007-11-26

How about to carry away one's life?

[domomc]

before we once again crucify the rights or wrongs of this country, whose parents and citizens by in large cherish all children - as western cultures once did (but sadly now often raise self rightreous and indulgent vagabonds who choose, and are allowed to reside here) - keep in mind that this type of event is not uncommon to the rest of the world, committed by many who who were once innocent children and brought into this world by parents whose mother or father or both then abandoned, who grew without love, stability and nuturing of parents. or suitable role models.

these are the people who committ such acts.

some countries even send these types of people overseas to foreign lands, give them uniforms and money and food and guns and permission to kill under the pretence of liberating others...

May this child rest in Peace.

[wasabi]

Ive posted several times how Japanese women are targets in this country. My own girlfriend has been vicimised many times and her friends have been raped and or robbed. One left for dead on the side of the road, guess she should be thankful her throat wasn't slashed and she could recover after a 2 month hospital stay.

Damian

Why are they targets any more than others? Just curious...

[Tony Clifton]

What's with all the yaba this and yaba that?

There isn't even a suspect yet!

I'm not defending the drug here but anyone who's been here long enough knows drugs need not be involved for these hideous crimes to take place.

[Deesurin]

If the topic is about violence in Thailand on the upswing...my God just look at Thai TV. I was shocked to see what was on...blurred gun or not the kids aborb it...like everywhere. Violence is a means to and end...most times money or valuables...you have...I do not...I take..try to stop me...you lose.

It is sad to see a myth shattered,I came to Thailand the first time with my head in the sky,land of peace and smiles...believing the travel books and internet ( not this fine site ) after a short time here I found out different.

One night my wife and I were watching tv and someone pryed open the shutters in the room 10 feet from us,climbed in,went through my back pack and suit case taking my digial camera and other things ( but thank God not my pass port) and climbed out..unheard by us..... What if I had heard him and opened the door..did he have a blurred gun ? would I been a topic here?

No matter how long here..we are still a stranger in a strange land. we have to be aware...more than "others" about what we reprosent to the Thais..$$$ have it or not.

There are bars on our windows now...(horse out of the barn)...but just "stuff" was lost..thank god not our lives.

I send peace and condolances to the young lady's family.

[AGareth2]

My condolences go to the lady's family and loved ones.

Rest in peace.

Thailand is not a safe place for a single female tourist or long-stayer for that matter.

Single females should think hard before coming to the Kingdom of Thailand.

[sbk]

Actually AGareth2, I disagree completely. Women are at risk anywhere in the world. And as such, learn to deal with it.

Comments like that are really very broad generalizations with no real basis in reality. Thousands of single women travel this country every year, and very few of them get raped or murdered.

Bad things happen anywhere. Unfortunately for this poor woman, it happened in Thailand.

[sriracha john]

Thailand to bring culprit in tourist murder case to justice: Tourism minister

SUKHOTHAI - Thailand's Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani on Monday evening said all concerned agencies would put all effort into bringing the culprit in Sunday' murder of a s Japanese female tourist in this northern province to justice.

"This murder case was a serious crime that will affect the national tourism industry. I will ensure all concerned parties put all effort into solving the case and bringing the offenders to justice," said Mr. Suvit.

The minister also said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont had expressed his condolences to the victim's relatives.

The minister made the statement after visiting Sukhothai Historical Park, some 400 kilometres north of Bangkok, where Tomoko Kawashita, 27, a tourist from Osaka, was found dead Sunday following the annual Loy Krathong festival on Saturday night.

The young woman was believed to have rented a bicycle to tour the scenic ruins before she was murdered.

Local police were skeptical the victim might have been raped. Forensic experts expected to take about two weeks for further examination for possible traces of semen and tissues of the assailant from the victim's nails to identify the DNA of the attacker.

- MCOT

===============================

This sounds a bit odd coming from the Sports Minister?

They need to have a suspect first before they can identify and match any DNA results with him/her.

[Scott]

sbk is right. Rape (and murder) happen everywhere. It catches our attention most notably when it is the most vulnerable people, such as children, people of different races or nationalities or particularly henious.

My concern is that this, and all cases, be carefully investigated to get the perpetrator. If not for justice, for the benefit of society. When they get the wrong person(s), that means there is a murderer or rapist on the loose and these people don't usually stop with one victim.

People in general and tourists in particular need to be advised of the hazards in a country and in a particular place, although in this case, during broad daylight at a World Heritage Site, one would really not expect this.

[kangeroo]

To say Thailand is getting worse ! no i dont think so, it is something that goes on all over the world . To many people with mental health + drug problems ready to destroy someone or something to satisfy there own feelings .

hope her family finds peace.

[sriracha john]

The victim, Tomoko Kawashita, age 27

and her bike...

http://pitaro.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2007/11/post_56cc.html

[sbk]

before we once again crucify the rights or wrongs of this country, whose parents and citizens by in large cherish all children - as western cultures once did (but sadly now often raise self rightreous and indulgent vagabonds who choose, and are allowed to reside here) - keep in mind that this type of event is not uncommon to the rest of the world, committed by many who who were once innocent children and brought into this world by parents whose mother or father or both then abandoned, who grew without love, stability and nuturing of parents. or suitable role models.

these are the people who committ such acts.

some countries even send these types of people overseas to foreign lands, give them uniforms and money and food and guns and permission to kill under the pretence of liberating others...

May this child rest in Peace.

She was 27. Not a child.

and we will not bring politics into this.