Phuket Land Probe: Witness Found Hanged

[webfact]

Phuket land probe: witness found hanged

Phuket Gazette

Pheu Thai Spoekesman Prompong Nopparit (center) led a team of investigators to inspect the land just nine days ago. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

The investigation team head down to the popular tourist beach below. Photo: Atchaa Khamlo

PHUKET: -- A security guard questioned by government officials about the ownership of land at Freedom Beach in Patong has died of what appears to be a suicide, a local Phuket newspaper has reported.

A report in today’s edition of Siangtai Daily newspaper identified the deceased as 54-year-old Narong Piromrak, a native of Nakhon Sri Thammarat province.

The death was reported at 6pm yesterday by a woman identified in the report as his wife, 45-year-old Wanida Namkhun.

Mrs Wanida told police she found her husband’s body suspended by the neck from a ceiling beam in the bathroom of their one-story cement home on Muen Ngern Rd, at the bridge to Patong Bay’s southern headland.

Patong Police and Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers recovered the body, which was suspended by two belts fastened together. The body was taken to Patong Hospital morgue.

They estimated the time of death at about 10 hours before the discovery.

Mrs Wanida said she and her husband ran a stand selling somtam (spicy papaya salad) and bottles of gasoline from their roadside home, which is on the way to Tri Trang Beach.

But that wasn’t his only occupation, she explained. About five years ago Mr Narong was hired as a security guard at nearby Freedom Beach, just over the sub-district border in Karon.

Mr Narong looked over a plot of land that triggered a national-level probe after it was put on the market for billions of baht.

Government investigators, including Pheu Thai Party spokesman Prompong Nopparit, questioned the authenticity of the land title deeds held by the owner. They suspect they were issued illegally on state forest land with the help of corrupt government officials.

About two weeks ago, Mr Narong under duress signed a document related to his knowledge of the history of the land and was under stress ever since, the report quoted his wife saying.

Mrs Wanida said her husband never suffered from stress or depression before and thought it was unlikely he would have taken his own life, according to the report.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12092.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-01-23

[laurentbkk]

Another very strange suicide ...linked to some fishy real estate stuff ... Welcome in Phuket ... one more time ..this island has become a total mess in the last few years ... There is so much better than Phuket in other countries .....

[steelepulse]

Very strange indeed since his wife doesn't think he would have done this. RIP

>>There is so much better than Phuket in other countries

Where would that be laurenbkk? I'm always interested in places so much better that offer the relaxed beach lifestyle, have direct international connections, modern facilities, great dining options, boating, diving etc.

[BOS2BKK]

One more nail in Phukets coffin. I used to love Phuket, 8 years ago. Now I recommend against people going there. It represents all the worst aspect of the Thai attitudes towards foreigners, and attracts the tourists looking for the bad stereotype "Hangover II" experience. If you want your ATM card copied, a fight with a Jet Ski operator over damage costs, getting extorted buy a tuktuk driver, and to hang out in Discos full of Eurotrash and Arab posers buying Champagne with stolen credit cards, then Phuket is for you.

And for all the trouble, an old man working a blue collar job gets strung up for being honest.

Nice job Tourist Thailand.

[necronx99]

Very strange indeed since his wife doesn't think he would have done this. RIP

>>There is so much better than Phuket in other countries

Where would that be laurenbkk? I'm always interested in places so much better that offer the relaxed beach lifestyle, have direct international connections, modern facilities, great dining options, boating, diving etc.

Cairns?

[Thai at Heart]

Chinese New Year Clean up

[bangkapi]

Phuket is a place where I never ever ever wish to go again!!

[necronx99]

Phuket is a place where I never ever ever wish to go again!!

I haven't been there for a long time, but 20 years ago it was my favorite place on the planet

Edited January 23, 2012 by necronx99

[Phuket Stan]

Very strange indeed since his wife doesn't think he would have done this. RIP

>>There is so much better than Phuket in other countries

Where would that be laurenbkk? I'm always interested in places so much better that offer the relaxed beach lifestyle, have direct international connections, modern facilities, great dining options, boating, diving etc.

Cairns?

But isnt Cairns full of Australians trying to make a fast buck

[Jimi007]

Phuket is a place where I never ever ever wish to go again!!

Why? I've lived here for seven years with very few problems. Like anywhere, life is what you make it...

[Valentine]

Poor guy. If he was actually murdered then the plot very definitely thickens.