Female Japanese Tourist Robbed And Murdered In Sukhothai

[sriracha john]

Parents of Tomoko Kawashita, a slain Japanese tourist, visit the scene where their daughter was killed in Sukhothai province and conduct a religious rite for her.

The Nation

Thailand is dream destination of slain Japanese tourist

Japanese murder victim Tomoko Kawashita had saved money for her Thailand trip by taking extra jobs and was especially attracted to the Loy Krathong festival.

Yasuaki, Kawashita's father, said his daughter loved Thailand but had died undeservedly in a country where the people were nice and held the same Buddhist belief as his daughter did.

Speaking through translators, he said: "I cannot comprehend why such a thing has happened to my daughter."

The father pleaded with those who had clues to the murder to come forward and called for speedy action by Thai police to arrest those responsible.

Yasuaki, his wife Eko and son Hiroshi conducted a Buddhist ceremony at the scene where Tomoko's body was found. Escorted by tourist police, they later went to the Old City Guest House where the victim checked in when she first arrived in the province, and the Lampang Elephants Conversation Centre, which she visited afterwards.

Police called a meeting of the owners of all guesthouses and tourist lodging services in Sukhothai province to sift through information for possible clues leading to Sunday's murder of the Japanese tourist.

Investigators are also looking for a Japanese man seen together with Kawashita in the Sukhothai Historical Park during a Loy Krathong festival on Saturday to interview him.

A senior police officer had earlier dismissed the unidentified Japanese as a suspect, but sources familiar with the investigation said the man was still being sought.

A Bt10,000 reward has been offered by a senior officer to any policemen who uncovers clues to the murder or arrests the suspect. A thorough search was earlier conducted by a 250-strong force in a 2km radius around Wat Taphan Hin where Kawashita's body was found on Sunday.

- The Nation

[Bagwan]

A Bt10,000 reward has been offered by a senior officer to any policemen who uncovers clues to the murder or arrests the suspect. A thorough search was earlier conducted by a 250-strong force in a 2km radius around Wat Taphan Hin where Kawashita's body was found on Sunday.

- The Nation

So BiB have applied for an arrest warrant? And now this? The message I am receiving from these items indicates to me that they don't have a clue and are casting around in desperation. Is it considered normal in LoS that policemen get paid twice to do their jobs?

[schmangle]

First my condolences to her family. For their sake, I hope that this can be quickly resolved, with the correct person/s charged and jailed.

I was happy to see that after the usual hysterical outcry about thailand going down the drain, being so super dangerous blah blah blah, saner voices prevailed.

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.

This is just utter rubbish. I'm a single female, lived here 11 years. In that time, one attempted bag snatch.

Admittedly, I come from South Africa which has some of the highest crime rates in the world, so my "danger" sensors are possibly more finely tuned than those of people from supposedly "safer" countries.

I think many people have overly idyllic visions of the countries they visit, and let their guard down a lot more than they would in their home country.

In this particular case, it seems like a case of wrong place at the wrong time. Its possible somebody followed her, its possible somebody was hanging out there. We don't know. Its a tragic death, as are all deaths from random violence. And its huge in the media because it SELLS. I don't think its indicative of Thailand now being a very dangerous place from which we should all run shrieking and screaming. If assaults like this became so commonplace that they didn't make headlines, then i would certainly start running.

Violence against thai women (which does occur in frightening numbers) is not big news so receives little to no media coverage. For those concerned about the situation, how about donating to Women's Centers for victims of abuse?

[pointofview]

Ex corrupt PM Thaksin always has blood on his hands when tourists are robbed or murdered in Thailand. He openly said through the media - some years ago - that it was the inherent duty of all Thais to take as much as possible from any ferang. Anyone reading this - operating on the same level as him - would realise what he meant: a ferang is only a commoditie.

Edited November 28, 2007 by pointofview

[pointofview]

First my condolences to her family. For their sake, I hope that this can be quickly resolved, with the correct person/s charged and jailed.

I was happy to see that after the usual hysterical outcry about thailand going down the drain, being so super dangerous blah blah blah, saner voices prevailed.

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.

This is just utter rubbish. I'm a single female, lived here 11 years. In that time, one attempted bag snatch.

Admittedly, I come from South Africa which has some of the highest crime rates in the world, so my "danger" sensors are possibly more finely tuned than those of people from supposedly "safer" countries.

I think many people have overly idyllic visions of the countries they visit, and let their guard down a lot more than they would in their home country.

In this particular case, it seems like a case of wrong place at the wrong time. Its possible somebody followed her, its possible somebody was hanging out there. We don't know. Its a tragic death, as are all deaths from random violence. And its huge in the media because it SELLS. I don't think its indicative of Thailand now being a very dangerous place from which we should all run shrieking and screaming. If assaults like this became so commonplace that they didn't make headlines, then i would certainly start running.

Violence against thai women (which does occur in frightening numbers) is not big news so receives little to no media coverage. For those concerned about the situation, how about donating to Women's Centers for victims of abuse?

Most young Japanese tourists - i have seen - look to be petite and feminine. A lot of western woman these days are feminists - often butch - and consequently less likley to be targeted.

[DamianMavis]

I agree with you pointofview but on a much less insulting level. Peoples perspectives and opinions are based on their personal experiences, I just wish people that say things like "absolute rubbish" would recognise and accept that their feeling of safety is because of who THEY are, thousands of other women that come here fall into a "victim" profile and ARE targetted, regardless of how safe it is for other women that dont fit the profile. This country is an extremely dangerous place for the woman I love, and it makes me sad and makes life here for us very stressful. I truly wish this place was as nice and safe as some people think it is, I would like nothing more. To those about to say the usual assinine "if you don't like it than leave!".... we stay because we both have very promosing careers here, although when something bad happens to her we have considered leaving.... but it would be such a huge lost chance.

This country HAS gotten more and more dangerous over the last 10 years, I blame the media and western influence. My friends that have been here between 8 and 10 years all say they would have trusted a Thai person with their life when they first got here, but now things are getting worse and worse and they don't trust anyone. They could leave their wallet on the table of a restaurant and people would run out after them with it... that is a thing of the past I fear.

Ok, everybody, I do apologize for my comments. I was pissed, and they were out of line. I'm sorry.

*well, truly sorry, please forgive me.

I just thought you were out of line a bit, didn't think you were the DEVIL or anything heh.

Damian

[pointofview]

If animals are taken away from their natural enviornments - put in cages or zoos for eg - they often become dangerous and unpredictable. Humans act in a similar way - through the detruction of their envoirnment and natural lifestyle. Greedy corrupt capitalists are the route of the cause.

[sonnyJ]

Condolences to the victim's family and hopes for a peaceful hereafter to the victim

The standard of reporting in the news clippings was set by the statement that Sukhothai was Thailand's capital for a period....

Sukhothai was NEVER the capital of Thailand

- Thailand did not exist until 1938/39. Sukhothai was dysfunctional and absorbed into the Kingdom of Ayutthaya by the late-1300s AD much to the chagrine of the Kingdom of LanNa, which fought several wars with Ayutthaya trying to recover territory that LanNa considered to be theirs.

Ayutthaya too, was never the capital of Thailand, or even of all the territory now within Thailand - it was sacked and completely destroyed by the Burmese in the late 18th Century AD, and even at its peak, several major regions of current Thailand were never under its dominion.

Siam was a generic name for a region of kingdoms and principalities, formalised as a country name after the founding of Krung Thep in the Taksin / Chakri (Rama 1) period, due to the adoption of the name (by foreign emmisaries) as representing the new country around that time. Originally it was a Chinese-given name (Syam) for the Shan west of Nanchao, in what is now Yunnan province.

Gaz

Very interesting Gaz.

So, Shan simply means hills with many southwestern "Chinese" or "Tibetan-Chinese" dialects.

What did the Shan call themselves before?

What did "Thais" call themselves before?

People do have a habit to call their kind by a name.

If you solve this you're on a BIG breakthrough on many fields.

[sonnyJ]

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.

I thought all porn is banned in most SEA???

[sonnyJ]

It's sad to hear this kind of stuff all the time. But I guess there are lots of tourists ....fourteen million people come into Thailand each year; some don't make it out.

As for Japanese, I guess they are easy targets, girls even easier. In Cebu, Philippines just a week or 2 ago, a Japanese businessman was murdered on his way to the airport. But you don't (or didn't) expect this stuff in Thailand. I guess I'm not surprised anymore as I have waken up to the reality of that a nation who has such a massive prostitution industry (for foreigners, thais, malaysians in the south) would be run by the mafia, and everything just follows from that. Any nation who allows, organizes and encourages their children en masse to go into prostitution is a nation in serious need of help. Not money, but a complete scrubbing of the powers that be. According to Guardian (UK), 224 Britons died in Thailand between Apr 2005 and Mar 2006, 5 times more than any other country in the world. This is without the tsunami or the recent plane crash.

Truth is, Japan like Thailand, is making money from their business relationship, and nobody wants to rock the boat. Atleast if she died in Japan, she would get a proper investigation and funeral.

I thought there are serious statistical research made that a legal prostitution prevents rapes.

This is more a cultural thing, man-woman relationships within the society. Anyway there's no prove of rape.

[sonnyJ]

the avg tourist carries 3k baht?

try 30K. esp. japanese ones.

I intentionally made a conservative estimation.

Well there are many kinds of tourists. But very possible yes.

Nobody seems to remember the lost bag. Was there a bag is another thing.

[DamianMavis]

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.

I thought all porn is banned in most SEA???

Joking?! Illegal or not it is so vastly and readily available in Bangkok that it boggles the mind. I can't go to tech malls without scummy porn dealers fondling me and shouting SEXY MOVIE in my ear while I'm holding hands with my girlfriend..... Not only that but its sold on the street all over the tourist areas with graphic covers often openly displayed for all passerbys to see.

Damian

[girlx]

I agree with you pointofview but on a much less insulting level. Peoples perspectives and opinions are based on their personal experiences, I just wish people that say things like "absolute rubbish" would recognise and accept that their feeling of safety is because of who THEY are, thousands of other women that come here fall into a "victim" profile and ARE targetted, regardless of how safe it is for other women that dont fit the profile. This country is an extremely dangerous place for the woman I love, and it makes me sad and makes life here for us very stressful. I truly wish this place was as nice and safe as some people think it is, I would like nothing more. To those about to say the usual assinine "if you don't like it than leave!".... we stay because we both have very promosing careers here, although when something bad happens to her we have considered leaving.... but it would be such a huge lost chance.

This country HAS gotten more and more dangerous over the last 10 years, I blame the media and western influence. My friends that have been here between 8 and 10 years all say they would have trusted a Thai person with their life when they first got here, but now things are getting worse and worse and they don't trust anyone. They could leave their wallet on the table of a restaurant and people would run out after them with it... that is a thing of the past I fear.

completely agreed.

[sriracha john]

Parents mourn the death of their daughter

A Japanese woman slain in Sukhothai province during the Loy Krathong festival took extra jobs to make money to travel here before she was murdered, according to the victim's father. ''I was so grieved. My daughter loved Thailand very much and wanted to travel here so she worked hard and took extra jobs to save money for her trip to visit the country, but she was murdered despite the fact that Thailand is a Buddhist country,'' Mr Yasuaki said yesterday. He was speaking through an translator as he, his wife Keko and son Hiroshi conducted a religious rite at the location where Tomoko's body was found. Police have not issued arrest warrants for any suspects in the murder case after the failure to conduct a DNA test on one male suspect, who had traces of blood under his nails. A Crime Suppression Division source said the amount of blood was too little and too dry to be examined by the Police Forensic Science Office. Yesterday, they continued their investigations into 10 male suspects, some of whom had histories of drug addiction. The officers said they needed more evidence to identify the culprit. ''I will look into the issue myself,'' Assistant National Police Chief Kittithat Ruenthip told the victim's parents as they inspected the scene of the murder near Wat Saphan Hin temple in Sukhothai's Muang district yesterday.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/29Nov2007_news11.php

[Khnom]

If the victim had been Thai, and the attack had occured in the SF bay area,

the entire community would be up-in-arms, not just the local Thais.

The only time I've seen an Ethnic community around here got all riled up was when an on-duty policeman in uniform shot and killed an elderly Vietnamese grandmother a few years ago. She was stopped for a minor traffic violation and ended up dead.

I would think that most people who choose to live in the area most prone to earthquake and in a relatively violent country have assessed their risk tolerance level before making the choice. If it's a one-off like the example above, then all bets are off.

[kat]

Chinthee - it seems that the woman in question was with a gruop of Thai guys the night before the murder and checked out of her guest house at 2am to sleep elsewhere... so perhaps she actually went off with one of the guys and he turned out to be a nut???

I have not seen that bit of information anywhere. Where did you find it?

Your comments were all the more jolting because I do know your history. Chinthee, I would suggest that your objectivity has become terribly jaded, either because of your "investigative" approach, or your attitudes toward independent female sexuality. I'm not sure of your age, but the attitudes you displayed are reminiscent of rape trials of previous decades in the West, where women's supposed virtue is the main consideration in a rape charge. Very disturbing.

But, it does seem out of character.

Well obviously nothing should be assumed but unfortunately if it may help the investigators catch the crazy person that has done this then it has to be done. Or are you suggesting it should be ignored at the risk of missing vital facts that could determine exactly why something like this has happened?

No, read my comments again, please. I am saying that a woman's alleged sexual history has nothing to do with proving rape or not.

I find it interesting to hear how many posters continue with the idea that Japan is safe for women. I have had several female friends live there for quite a few years and they all reported being sexually harassed and assaulted on the trains on a regular basis. It is so prevalent that they now have women only cars.

It is also pretty widely known that rape in Japan is seriously underreported.

I realize the victim was not raped but I do think it is misleading to suggest that Japanese women are unaware of these kinds of crime and the threat they hold. Perhaps expected cultural behavior is a better explanation as Damian suggested earlier.

Condolences to her family, its a terrible thing to happen to any family anywhere.

I'm not sure if you are talking about me here, but I did not ever say Japan is safe for women. Japan has different sorts of crime, and displayed attitudes toward women. There is certainly less street-level crime in Japan than in many other industrialized and developing countries.

The killer probably thought its a Thai woman. What I would really hate in this case would be if the police just gets some random guy again to show that they work efficient. The innocent guy gets executed and that's about it.

I think this is the most ridiculous thing I've ever read ANYWHERE, not just this forum. Thai people immediately recognise a non Thai, especially Japanese that have light skin, bigger noses, dress completely differently.... Foreigners are targetted because THEY CARRY MORE MONEY than a Thai girl, Japanese women are specifically targetted and often for rape and robbery, they are seen as a prize catch by normal Thai men, to predators they are a different kind of prize. Just because you can't tell the difference between Asian races doesnt mean they can't also.

Damian

Really?

What about the Chinese living here?

And women from the Philippines?

Indonesia?

Malaysia?

When the above start to talk, yes, I agree!

The differences are starting to get less all the time for obvious reasons, so the recogising is getting more difficult.

For the rest, you are right, foreigners are targeted more and more.

Let us say the government does not really condone this, but maybe has a leading role?

As for "normal" Thai men, I have the opinion that raping and robbing and looting are not normal.

Only stupid people hurt other people.

I am so sorry for this poor girl and her family.

Sometimes I feel ashamed to be a Thai woman, ashamed for my country, ashamed for my people, ashamed for how they think about other people, how they treat other people.

Now I feel the shame, the loss of face burning me.

You, readers of ThaiVisa, please feel the shame too, and pray for this girl and her family.

Khomkhum

Wife of Hansnl

I would never blame you for the acts of horrible people, Khomkhum. We all carry around shame sometimes, but shouldn't carry it for acts we didn't commit.

Ok, everybody, I do apologize for my comments. I was pissed, and they were out of line. I'm sorry.

*well, truly sorry, please forgive me.

Chinthee, no need to apologize, only to discuss. We all get jaded or biased from time to time, or flat out disagree. Thanks for openly discussing.

First my condolences to her family. For their sake, I hope that this can be quickly resolved, with the correct person/s charged and jailed.

I was happy to see that after the usual hysterical outcry about thailand going down the drain, being so super dangerous blah blah blah, saner voices prevailed.

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.

This is just utter rubbish. I'm a single female, lived here 11 years. In that time, one attempted bag snatch.

Admittedly, I come from South Africa which has some of the highest crime rates in the world, so my "danger" sensors are possibly more finely tuned than those of people from supposedly "safer" countries.

I think many people have overly idyllic visions of the countries they visit, and let their guard down a lot more than they would in their home country.

In this particular case, it seems like a case of wrong place at the wrong time. Its possible somebody followed her, its possible somebody was hanging out there. We don't know. Its a tragic death, as are all deaths from random violence. And its huge in the media because it SELLS. I don't think its indicative of Thailand now being a very dangerous place from which we should all run shrieking and screaming. If assaults like this became so commonplace that they didn't make headlines, then i would certainly start running.

Violence against thai women (which does occur in frightening numbers) is not big news so receives little to no media coverage. For those concerned about the situation, how about donating to Women's Centers for victims of abuse?

Why would you assume that some of us haven't? Why don't you also try months upon months of volunteering, and years of research. Maybe THAT's why some of us have perspectives that reach beyond our own comfort levels.

[Khnom]

Not to minimize such a tragic crime, but I've got a question for you: Had the victim been a Thai, would the members of this board be as up-in-arm about this murder?

See here, this is but one example.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...12487&st=15

Horrifically ludicrous! Good grief... I wasn't aware of this. Thank you.

[cm-happy]

I look forward to reading either here on TV or the paper that the police have apprehended the REAL culprit(s) based upon irrefutable evidence. Follow the trial and sentencing hopping the perpetrator(s) rot in jail for life. Execution is too easy for them!

[Khnom]

If the victim had been Thai, and the attack had occured in the SF bay area,

the entire community would be up-in-arms, not just the local Thais.

The only time I've seen an ethnic community got all riled up was when an on-duty policeman in uniform shot and killed an elderly Vietnamese grandmother. She was stopped for a minor traffic violation and ended up dead.

I would think for people who choose to live in the area most prone to earthquakes and in a relatively violent country have already assessed their risk tolerance level before making the choice. If it's a one-off as in the example above, then all bets are off.

[Khnom]

Not to minimize such a tragic crime, but I've got a question for you: Had the victim been a Thai, would the members of this board be as up-in-arm about this murder?

Probably not. But then again, it was a foreigner as are most members on this forum, i.e. expats or tourists, so it is only human nature that we pay more attention to crime news with foreigners as victims than we do to news about Thai victims.

Also, Japanese women are so cute...

Your point is taken. Thank you.

[Nordlys]

A Japanese woman slain in Sukhothai province during the Loy Krathong festival took extra jobs to make money to travel here before she was murdered, according to the victim's father. ''I was so grieved. My daughter loved Thailand very much and wanted to travel here so she worked hard and took extra jobs to save money for her trip to visit the country, but she was murdered despite the fact that Thailand is a Buddhist country,'' Mr Yasuaki said yesterday.

She was a member of a small theatrical company in Osaka that she recently formed with her friends. She just quit her job at a pastry shop to concentrate and work full time on theater, and just finished the first performance last month. She came to Thailand because she wanted to ride elephant and to "fill the void" after the troups's launch of their first stage. Apparently it was her first trip to Thailand.

She also wrote her journey is sustained by the kindness and assistance of many (I think she implies locals).

She wrote in one of the entries in her now-closed blog (in very colloquial Osakan dialect and with lots of emoticons) that a young and kind Thai lady who claimed to be on her way to Bangkok from Chiang Mai gave her a lift when she was alone on the road side after her days at the "elephant center" (presumed elephant conservation center in Lampang), lost and baffled as to how she'll catch transportation to her next destination. She wasn't asking to be hitchhiked but this Thai motorist backtracked the highway after passing her to offer her a ride (which she called "godsend"). This Thai lady proved to be so nice she dropped Tomoko at a "decent guest house" and even gave her a bag of candy when parting with Tomoko. She also mentioned of other memorable chance meetings with the locals whose paths crossed with hers but without giving much specifics. Obviously she treasured those moments very much she wrote in her last entry "my journey of gratitude is to be continued" and "may the rest of the trip bring me more nice encounters".

Edited November 29, 2007 by Nordlys

[rogerchiangmai]

A tremendously sad story and sympathies go out to her family. There are around 16000 views now and some 200+ responses.

I wonder what interest would have been generated if the story was Thai man robbed and killed in Sukhothai - just a thought.

I am led to believe that murders of Thais are commonly not reported by the police - drunken brawls at the end of local festivals are not uncommon and deaths sometimes maybe often result???

Edited November 29, 2007 by rogerchiangmai

[sbk]

I find it interesting to hear how many posters continue with the idea that Japan is safe for women. I have had several female friends live there for quite a few years and they all reported being sexually harassed and assaulted on the trains on a regular basis. It is so prevalent that they now have women only cars.

It is also pretty widely known that rape in Japan is seriously underreported.

I realize the victim was not raped but I do think it is misleading to suggest that Japanese women are unaware of these kinds of crime and the threat they hold. Perhaps expected cultural behavior is a better explanation as Damian suggested earlier.

Condolences to her family, its a terrible thing to happen to any family anywhere.

I'm not sure if you are talking about me here, but I did not ever say Japan is safe for women. Japan has different sorts of crime, and displayed attitudes toward women. There is certainly less street-level crime in Japan than in many other industrialized and developing countries.

Try not to be so sensitive. I was referring to this post by Canadiangirl

Since you probably know a bit about Japanese culture from your gf Damian, maybe you can tell me what you think:

having just passed by Tokyo, I think that Japan is a very safe and trusting culture. AFAIK, there is almost no violent crime, and people carry large amounts of cash all the time, partly because it's safe, and partly because most places don't take credit card at all.

Which I think makes them perhaps more ill-prepared than most to deal with somewhere like Thailand.

Bleh, I consider myself fairly street-wise, and I ('m pretty sure) I got totally ripped off at the Viet embassy today! :-(

and by Damian.

Japan is relatively safe, safer than alot of other countries... from what I read, amazingly safer than countries such as the U.K. This leads to a lot of naive attitudes about safety issues when travelling. Japanese women often react badly under attack too... a western woman will be raised in a culture to resist and show defiance when in a situation they do not like, Japanese seem to freeze up and become a ball of quivering jello..... in my experience with my own woman being a victim.

Damian

In my opinion, rape and sexual assault are violent crimes. And my point was that it was most likely a cultural response, not one due to unfamiliarity with criime.

I also disagreed with the hyperbole uttered that Thailand is not a safe place for a single woman to travel in. Really? As opposed to where?

The sad fact is this woman is dead. It could just as easily been a Thai woman or a foreign woman. Perhaps she was targetted because she was Japanese, or perhaps she was targeted because she was a woman in the wrong place at the wrong time. Until the murderer is caught we won't know but it will all be merely speculation.

[sylviex]

Investigators are also looking for a Japanese man seen together with Kawashita in the Sukhothai Historical Park during a Loy Krathong festival on Saturday to interview him.

A senior police officer had earlier dismissed the unidentified Japanese as a suspect, but sources familiar with the investigation said the man was still being sought.

Not sure if that was mentioned earlier (from The Nation).

[sonnyJ]

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.

I thought all porn is banned in most SEA???

Joking?! Illegal or not it is so vastly and readily available in Bangkok that it boggles the mind. I can't go to tech malls without scummy porn dealers fondling me and shouting SEXY MOVIE in my ear while I'm holding hands with my girlfriend..... Not only that but its sold on the street all over the tourist areas with graphic covers often openly displayed for all passerbys to see.

Damian

So are you saying the places you go don't have western, chinese or animal porn? Forgot to add thai and banana trees??

Edited November 29, 2007 by sonnyJ

[sonnyJ]

A tremendously sad story and sympathies go out to her family. There are around 16000 views now and some 200+ responses.

I wonder what interest would have been generated if the story was Thai man robbed and killed in Sukhothai - just a thought.

I am led to believe that murders of Thais are commonly not reported by the police - drunken brawls at the end of local festivals are not uncommon and deaths sometimes maybe often result???

This truly is the most sad story I have ever read on TV. Reporting, Media, blog, tourist, loy krathong, etc..

Just heart breaking.

She was simply unlucky.

Few years ago I read about the murder of a Japanese man killed and robbed by his guide? by the road at Si Sachanalai ( the smaller site next to Sukhothai) for camera and 3000 THB.

[sbk]

Police follow suspects in Japanese tourist's murder

Thai investigators are keeping a close watch on at least three persons under suspicion of involvement in the murder of a Japanese tourist in the Sukhothai historical park last Sunday.

The suspects are reported to have records of raping women and molesting tourists four years ago at the place where the body of the Japanese tourist was found. However, details of the investigation have not been disclosed.

The parents of the victim on Tuesday met inquiry officials at a police station in Sukhothai municipality and travelled to view the site where their daughter was killed.

Tomoko Kawashita, 27, from Osaka, had visited Luang Prabang in Laos before entering Thailand on November 19.

The young woman had rented a bicycle to tour historical sites in the northern Thai province before she was murdered. Her passport, handbag, and camera have not been recovered. (TNA)

[sbk]

Police find tissue in nails of slain Japanese tourist

SUKHOTHAI, Nov 29 (TNA) – Police forensic experts found tissue in the fingernails of the Japanese tourist who was slain Sunday in this historic province, which can be an important evidence, leading to the murderer.

A DNA test will be conducted to determine whether it matches one of the three suspects.

However, the police are still scouring the crime scene for more evidence because they lack sufficient evidence to make a link to the murderer, according to Pol. Maj-Gen. Sirin Padungsheewit, commander of

Thailand's provincial police.

The parents of Tomoko Kawashita, the 27-year-old victim, left Bangkok return the young woman's body to her homeland for religious ceremonies.

Meanwhile, speaking in reference to the tourist murdered in the Sukhothai Historical Park, Japanese ambassador to Thailand Hideaki Kobayashi said he reported that to his government. He said he didn't think the murder would affect the 120th anniversary of Japanese-Thai relations, but it may tarnish

Thailand's tourism image among some Japanese people in the short term.

The embassy has offered every assistance to the family of the victim while they are staying in Thailand. (TNA)-E004

[sonnyJ]

Police find tissue in nails of slain Japanese tourist

SUKHOTHAI, Nov 29 (TNA) – Police forensic experts found tissue in the fingernails of the Japanese tourist who was slain Sunday in this historic province, which can be an important evidence, leading to the murderer.

A DNA test will be conducted to determine whether it matches one of the three suspects.

However, the police are still scouring the crime scene for more evidence because they lack sufficient evidence to make a link to the murderer, according to Pol. Maj-Gen. Sirin Padungsheewit, commander of

Thailand's provincial police.

The parents of Tomoko Kawashita, the 27-year-old victim, left Bangkok return the young woman's body to her homeland for religious ceremonies.

Meanwhile, speaking in reference to the tourist murdered in the Sukhothai Historical Park, Japanese ambassador to Thailand Hideaki Kobayashi said he reported that to his government. He said he didn't think the murder would affect the 120th anniversary of Japanese-Thai relations, but it may tarnish

Thailand's tourism image among some Japanese people in the short term.

The embassy has offered every assistance to the family of the victim while they are staying in Thailand. (TNA)-E004

Thanks for SBK and others for up-dates. Hope the media stays interested over 1 week.

Yet, another conflicting report.

Police forensic experts found tissue in the fingernails of the Japanese tourist who was slain

However, the police are still scouring the crime scene for more evidence because they lack sufficient evidence to make a link to the murderer.

So maybe the murderer is still hiding behind the nearby bush?

[seonai]

Hi Kat, this is where I saw that news clip (post 92):

'Quoting witnesses, police said Kawashita checked into a guesthouse at around 10pm after arriving in the northern province at about 6pm on Saturday to join the festival at Sukhothai Historical Park.

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".

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.

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.'

The Nation