Australian businessman killed in condo fall

[Thaivisa News]

Bangkok:- A 56-year-old Australian businessman fell to his death from the rooftop of a Bangkok condominium in what believed to be a suicide, police said.

Pol Lt Preecha Polsa, an interrogator on duty of Thung Mahamek police station, identified the Australian as Ellis Moate.

Preecha said he was alerted of the fall from a condominium on Soi Silom 3 in Bang Rak district at 7:30 pm.

He rushed to the scene with scientific crime detection officers, a doctor on duty and rescuers from a foundation.

The officials found the body on a tennis court on the eighth floor of the 26-storey luxurious condominium. Moate was lying on his back and he was wearing a blue shirt and black trousers.

His Thai wife testified to Preecha that Moate was a businessman and he had just returned from Australia on March 19. The couple were staying on the 17th floor.

The wife said Moate also worked as a tennis tutor for residents of the condominium.

Preecha said it was preliminary believed that Moate jumped from the rooftop of the condominium and it was an apparent suicide.

Preecha said the Australian might have financial difficulty or might have quarreled with his young Thai wife.

Preecha said police will check footage from security cameras and will further question the wife after she gets over her grief to determine the motive.

Several foreigners’ suicides by jumping from condominiums have been reported recently. For example, a 70-year-old American jumped from a condominium on Soi Pridi Panomyong 14 on January 24 and was killed.

On December 20, a 24-year-old Swedish tourist jumped from the Beverly Tower on Soi Sukhumvit 11 and was killed.

[HeijoshinCool]

Preecha said police ... will further question the wife after she gets over her grief to determine the motive.

Yes, of course, wait as long as she would like you to. Don't even think of interviewing her now.

[EyesWideOpen]

If this keeps up, no farang will want to buy an condo above the 4th

floor.... Always mystified by these suicides. Farangs in their home

countries almost never commit suicide by jumping off of buildings.

Why do they do it here ? Something is not right.

" Preecha said the Australian might have financial difficulty...."

This is the classic police way to explain away these endless

suicides. How in god's name would a policeman who just

​showed up on the scene know what financial position the guy

was in ?? I call b********t.

Edited March 29, 2015 by EyesWideOpen

[Neeranam]

Give the guy some respect. - "young Thai wife" her age and what he was wearing are not important.

[NongKhaiKid]

If this keeps up, no farang will want to buy an condo above the 4th

floor.... Always mystified by these suicides. Farangs in their home

countries almost never commit suicide by jumping off of buildings.

Why do they do it here ? Something is not right.

" Preecha said the Australian might have financial difficulty...."

This is the classic police way to explain away these endless

suicides. How in god's name would a policeman who just

​showed up on the scene know what financial position the guy

was in ?? I call b********t.

Spot on ! The BIB always just have to say something, how many murders have we seen where a whole list of possible motives have been advanced in the very first official statement. ?

The BIB have never leaned, or maybe it doesn't suit them, to say that investigations are continuing and it's too early to say anything. If they think it makes them sound efficient and on top of things by making these ridiculous statements the effect is in fact the exact opposite.

However i do remember recently something involving a VIP where a very senior officer declined to give details as the evidence available was a ' state secret '... ?

There's always certain ' exceptions '.

[zaphod reborn]

Poor guy. RIP.

"Preecha said police will check footage from security cameras and will further question the wife after she gets over her grief to determine the motive." I would start by looking at her bank account.

[chooka]

Preecha said police ... will further question the wife after she gets over her grief to determine the motive.

Yes, of course, wait as long as she would like you to. Don't even think of interviewing her now.

normal police procedure is to interview all witnesses etc immediately, well in Australia it is anyway. Further statements can then be taken later if required.

They haven't conducted interviews, viewed CCTV footage or made inquiries about his business be it in Australia or Thailand but release a statement saying business failure and probably suicide. Proffessional police would say something along the lines of, the investigation is on going and we can't speculate on the reasons or cause of death.

[Somtamnication]

Me thinks these condos are way too high. No more than 20 metres in height, maximum.

[NongKhaiKid]

Preecha said police ... will further question the wife after she gets over her grief to determine the motive.

Yes, of course, wait as long as she would like you to. Don't even think of interviewing her now.

normal police procedure is to interview all witnesses etc immediately, well in Australia it is anyway. Further statements can then be taken later if required.

They haven't conducted interviews, viewed CCTV footage or made inquiries about his business be it in Australia or Thailand but release a statement saying business failure and probably suicide. Proffessional police would say something along the lines of, the investigation is on going and we can't speculate on the reasons or cause of death.

" Our condolences Mrs.... and we don't want to distress you more but there are some questions we HAVE to ask you. " Would be usual procedure in most places but it LoS it's ' we'll get around to it ".

The BIB and DSI are never much of a rush to interview anybody, it's easier to issue a summons and if your water buffalo is ill on the day don't hesitate to ask for an extension.

[Mr Somtam]

Too many jumpers in Thailand. Often a wife involved. Financial problems? Like a greedy wife? She got angry and pushed him over?

R.I.P.

[BSJ]

I don't get the suicide angle. Even if lifes a bit tough Westerners don't usually jump off a building when they are depressed. Maybe it was a Kevorkian jump?

[keestha]

I don't think in the West jumping from high rises is such a common suicide method. Why does it happen so often here, maybe copycat behavior caused by publicity about these cases?

[Jai Dee]

One offensive and insensitive post has been removed from this thread.

[Johnnie99]

Preecha said police ... will further question the wife after she gets over her grief to determine the motive.

Yes, of course, wait as long as she would like you to. Don't even think of interviewing her now.

That's very unkind. You know very well the insurance has to pay out before she gets over her grief.

[Caveat Emptor]

Preecha said police ... will further question the wife after she gets over her grief to determine the motive.

Yes, of course, wait as long as she would like you to. Don't even think of interviewing her now.

normal police procedure is to interview all witnesses etc immediately, well in Australia it is anyway. Further statements can then be taken later if required.

They haven't conducted interviews, viewed CCTV footage or made inquiries about his business be it in Australia or Thailand but release a statement saying business failure and probably suicide. Proffessional police would say something along the lines of, the investigation is on going and we can't speculate on the reasons or cause of death.

" Our condolences Mrs.... and we don't want to distress you more but there are some questions we HAVE to ask you. " Would be usual procedure in most places but it LoS it's ' we'll get around to it ".

The BIB and DSI are never much of a rush to interview anybody, it's easier to issue a summons and if your water buffalo is ill on the day don't hesitate to ask for an extension.

Your first sentence reflects basic professionalism which is sadly lacking here.

[jacko45k]

Preecha said a lot for someone who wasn't there!

But of course it must be suicide because someone else did it.

Edited March 30, 2015 by jacko45k

[SoFarAndNear]

What the hell is going on with these guys? Even if his wife is involved how you can choose to live with someone who can kill you? I mean there have to be signs if your partner intends to kill you right? Like always complaining about you especially about money and that you are a cheap charlie or something....so make you depressed and so on and then maybe use the right moment and make you jump or push you whatever...

Anyway it is always sad to hear these things. RIP. We urgently need some kind of group meetings for depressed westeners who live in this country who can't talk to no one about their problems... reading online does only make you more deperessed because you will only find more bad stories...

Edited March 30, 2015 by SoFarAndNear

[bruceybonus]

I don't think in the West jumping from high rises is such a common suicide method. Why does it happen so often here, maybe copycat behavior caused by publicity about these cases?

In the UK statistics for males for 2012. 60% was hanging/suffocation, 20% poison & 20% others. Therefore highly unlikely that that most of these high rise deaths are all suicides. With the ease you can get prescription drugs & alcohol, a jump off a building seems remote

Add to that the fact that a lot Thais think it is ok to scam/kill foreigners & you have a lot of suspicious deaths!

[maidee]

if the man was owner of the condo and with financial problems, why would he not first sell it ?

young wife .... mhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

and the police interrogater, he had not much interrogating to do with the victim ...

so how can i go home quickly today ... mhhh suicide seems to be written in the handbook

[marquis22]

I don't think in the West jumping from high rises is such a common suicide method. Why does it happen so often here, maybe copycat behavior caused by publicity about these cases?

But in Australia suicides are not so openly reported as they are here in Thailand

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

Sounds like another Thai wife with outstretched arms except the hug was a shove.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

What doesn't fit in this in this list?

A Business man, luxury condo owner and Thai wife.

I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count...

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

"Welcome home honnnnnnnnnnnney"

[kleelof]

Is it my imagination or do a lot of Farang 'fall' out of windows and off buildings in Thailand?

Edited March 30, 2015 by kleelof

[MobileContent]

Preecha said police ... will further question the wife after she gets over her grief to determine the motive.

Yes, of course, wait as long as she would like you to. Don't even think of interviewing her now.

That's very unkind. You know very well the insurance has to pay out before she gets over her grief.

I could be wrong but I thought on suicide - insurance companies are not paying.

[Schillaci]

I not home this time I go temple for make merit. Teerak him sad about business no good. Him drink too mut.

[greenchair]

The key words to me are.

After having quarrel with young Thai wife. ......??

[Freed1948]

Is there a "Beyond Blue" orginisation for farangs in Thailand?

If not there is a need for one.

[Gandtee]

Just another new member of the FFFFC (Falang free fall flying club) Rest in peace mate.

[Tanlic]

Great thing about being dead is he doesn't have to read the rubbish written on here about him

R.I.P.