The Dead Farang Thread

[dirtydog]

French tourist dies in fall from rocks

NAI HARN: A French tourist died on Wednesday morning after he apparently slipped while climbing rocks at Nai Harn Beach, plunging onto submerged rocks below.

Chalong Police Inspector Pol Lt Col Chockchai Sutthimek identified the victim as Gregory Eric Muguet, 34.

The accident occurred after the victim went out for a morning walk and swim with his mother, Col Chockchai said. “I was informed at about 9:30 am that a French tourist had slipped from some high rocks at the east end of the beach. When I arrived, we found his body clad only in a bathing suit. The body was badly cut from barnacle-covered rocks just below the surface,” he said.

The victim’s mother told Col Chokchai that during their stay they had walked along the beach and gone for a swim every morning after breakfast.

When they reached the end of the beach on Wednesday morning, the mother stopped to enjoy the view while her son, who enjoyed rock-climbing, tried to continue on.

He disappeared from view and, after about 15 minutes, his mother began to worry and started looking for him. To her horror, she saw a corpse floating offshore.

She called for help and the body was eventually brought back to the beach by some surfers, Col Chockchai said. She identified the victim as her son, he said.

He added that police were treating the case as accidental death and had already informed the French Embassy.

At the mother’s request, the body will be transferred from Vachira Phuket Hospital to the Police Forensic Science Office in Bangkok to determine the exact cause of death, he added.


phuket gazette

[otherstuff1957]

Here's another entry:

A farang jumped off the 23rd floor of the apartment building next door to us this morning. He landed on a electrical power line and knocked out our electricity for about 45 minutes.

I don't have any info about his age or nationality yet and I've been told that this suicide probably won't be reported in the newspapers. The landlord pays someone - the police? the newspapers? - off to keep it out of the news. There's about one suicide a year in this apartment comlex and he doesn't want potential renters to be scared away!

[Marmite the Dog]

He landed on a electrical power line and knocked out our electricity for about 45 minutes.

Inconsiderate b'stard! Was he Cherman?

[Bluecat]

Well, another one...

Belgian man falls to death from Bangkok condo

9 April 2006. The Nation



A 46-year-old Belgian man fell to his death from the 23rd floor of a Bangkok condominium Sunday morning in what police believed to be a suicide.

The man was identified as Otto J.F. Bourseaux, who lived on the 23rd floor of the Rajprarop Tower Mansion.

Police said the man had been staying at the condominium for five years with his Thai wife and they a son. But recently, the couple had quarrel with the wife, Yupin, left him to live with her relatives.

Police said the Belgian man might become depressed and commit suicide.

[otherstuff1957]

He landed on a electrical power line and knocked out our electricity for about 45 minutes.

Inconsiderate b'stard! Was he Cherman?

Er... Belgian apparently!

[Marmite the Dog]

He landed on a electrical power line and knocked out our electricity for about 45 minutes.

Inconsiderate b'stard! Was he Cherman?

Er... Belgian apparently!

Close enough.

[reinvented]

Nope
twas a mistake by the post
the chap was a german. my mate was his next door neighbour and had seen him that morning.
a senseless waste of life but rest his soul etc.

i dont think i could ever do that, i mean in japan if you check out in front of a train people send the cleaning bill to your family.

[dirtydog]

Our News is Always New

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Thursday 13th April 2006

German man jumps to his death at Central Pattaya Hotel.
Police Captain Sureeya from Pattaya Police Station was called to the Sunshine Hotel in Soi 8, Central Pattaya, after hotel staff reported the possible suicide of one of it’s German residents. At the scene, Police inspected the body of Mr. Stephan Palm age 39 from Germany. His body was lying on the ground floor and evidence of a fall from a high floor was clear because of the extent of the trauma suffered by the victim. He was identified by Hotel Staff who took Police to his room, number 2045 on the fourth floor. Nothing was found inside the room which arouses suspicion and hotel staff and cleaners claimed that they never saw the man take anyone back to his room and the room had been paid for without a problem. One cleaner did see the man on the 11th Floor on Wednesday Afternoon, moments before his apparent suicide but claimed he appeared in a relaxed mood. The motive behind the apparent suicide is now not known and Police are confident that a third party was not involved. The German Embassy in Bangkok have been informed and they will conduct their own independent investigation into the case and will inform the dead mans family back in Germany.

[Bluecat]

and Police are confident that a third party was not involved..

You have to give them that.
They're confident...

[Fabian]

i dont think i could ever do that, i mean in japan if you check out in front of a train people send the cleaning bill to your family.

Good idea.
Why do those suicidal people always have to kill themselves during rush hour?

[dirtydog]

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Thursday 20th April 2006

New Zealand man murdered in North Pattaya.
At 10.30 on Thursday Morning Pattaya Police received word of a fatal shooting inside Soi Petragoon in North Pattaya. Police Colonel Somnook, the Chief of Pattaya Police along with other senior officers went to the scene and inspected the body of Mr. Stephen Jeffery Miller aged 40 from New Zealand. An initial inspection of the body revealed a single gun shot wound just under his right ear. He was carrying a blue Universe Gym Pattaya bag which was full of sports equipment and a small amount of cash and a mobile phone, suggesting he was either returning from or on his way to the Gym which supports information received which indicated he would attend the gym on a regular basis. Witnesses mentioned that two Thai men on a motorbike drove next to the victim as was driving along the road and the passenger who was wearing a hooded coat, expelled a single shot, causing Mr. Miller to fall from his bike after sustaining a fatal head trauma. Police are now investigating the case and tell us that the man is currently in a relationship with a Thai woman, Khun Gintana from Udon Thani Province who is currently not in Pattaya. They have been together for only 2 months and were staying at the Perfect Deluxe Mansions located along the Northern stretch of Pattaya Third Road, however Mr. Miller was known to be involved in a legal case regarding property ownership with a former girlfriend, Khun Ann from Sriracha. Both are now being contacted to determine if they were somehow involved in the case. Mr. Miller, who has been in Pattaya for many years was involved in Property development and was known to be working with a number of local high profile property companies. We are now in close contact with the New Zealand Embassy who are conducting their own investigation into this disturbing murder case. They tell us that Mr. Miller is not known to them and it appears that he has no past criminal convictions or other problems back in New Zealand that the Police are aware of. We expect updates on this story over the next few days and we will of course bring them to you here on Pattaya City News.

[Rigger]

Happens all to often

[dirtydog]

The joys of doing business in Thailand

[dirtydog]

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Saturday 22nd April 2006

Important update on the recent murder of a New Zealand National in Pattaya.
An important update now on the story we covered earlier this week regarding the apparent murder of Mr. Stephen Jeffrey Miller aged 40 from New Zealand. He was shot dead as he was riding his motorbike along Soi Petragoon in North Pattaya. The Police investigation into this high profile murder is now being overseen by the regions top Police Officer, Police Lieutenant General Jongrak who is the Police Commander for Region 2. Inside Pattaya Police Station he chaired a meeting which was also attended by representatives from the New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok. In attendance were two of Mr. Miller’s wives, Khun Gintana and Khun Ann who are both assisting Police with their enquiries. It appears that Mr. Miller had four Thai wives. Three of the wives are now known to Police, Khun Gintana and Khun Ann who were at this meeting, Khun Mai, who did not attend and a fourth wife who has currently not been identified. Initial information suggested that Mr. Miller was involved in a court case regarding land and property ownership with Khun Ann. At the meeting she confirmed this to be untrue and Police now tell us that the case relates to a fourth wife who is now being located. The Embassy revealed that Mr. Miller had a previous conviction for illegally taking steroids into New Zealand, but this case had already been cleared. The Police General mentioned that some information cannot be released to the press at this time because it is an ongoing investigation, however they do know the shooter and his accomplice and an arrest is expected to take place shortly. Regarding possible motives for the shooting, Police have three theories which form the basis of their investigation.
1. The murder may be related to the steroid case in New Zealand.
2. It may be business related as Mr. Miller was active in the local property market.
3. It could relate to an ongoing court case with his 4th, as yet unidentified, wife
That’s all we have for now. We will bring any further updates to you when we receive them.

[dirtydog]

BANGKOK — Thai police said Saturday they are in "dire need" for more evidence and witnesses in the murders of two Japanese men in a Bangkok suburb last month.

Police Lt Gen Wuthi Phuawes, commissioner of Provincial Police Region One, gave copies of photographs of the victims to Thai and Japanese journalists at a press conference in Bangkok and asked for help in tracing the men's movement before their deaths.
The police identified the two victims as Yoshio Kojima, a 53-year-old business man, and Tatsuya Hisagane, a 52-year-old interpreter, whose bodies were found March 28 dumped at a construction site in the Lam Luk Ka District of Pathum Thani Province near the Thai capital.
At the press conference, the commissioner pleaded with local media to disseminate the pictures of the victims to the public and gave out contact numbers for the investigators.
"We are in dire need for more information related to these two men, otherwise there would be no progress in this case at all," Wuthi said. They were "brutally murdered with 32-mm bullets," he added.
"We suppose there were more than three men involved in the murders, both Thai and Japanese. The killer might be foreign, but there must be a Thai national involved in the case," he said.
Wuthi said police still do not know what sort of business Kojima was doing or the "real purpose" of the visit to Thailand by Kojima and Hisagane, whose passports, he said, indicated both are from Tokyo.
"Our investigative team presupposes that the pair was held at a secret location, either in Bangkok or suburban districts, by some 'bandits' either for the purposes of getting secret information or money. They might have had business or personal conflicts," Wuthi added.
Forensic experts have concluded Kojima died March 25, two days before Hisagane, according to the district commissioner.
According to information from immigration police, both men came to Thailand four times in the past nine months — three days in August, 10 days in October, three days in December, and the trip that ended in their deaths.
Records showed they last entered Thailand on All Nippon Airways flight NH953 from Tokyo to Bangkok on March 7.
A team of Thai investigators from the Provincial Police Region One, the Tourist Police Division and Immigration Bureau have learned only that the two men were seen dining with a few other people on two separate occasions at two Japanese restaurants in downtown Bangkok in mid-March.
"We got helpful cooperation from taxi drivers and fruit sellers in the area who saw the two victims in the area. But we have no exact information on dates or times because they did not pay by credit cards," Wuthi said.
Earlier this month, local police said Kojima was shot once in the nape of the neck and Hisagane three times, also in the nape of the neck.
According to information from the police earlier this month, relatives of the missing men reportedly claimed they had brought 80 million yen in cash with them on the trip to Thailand.
The police also said the pair had checked into a hotel on Bangkok's Surawong Road with two other Japanese men who have already left the city.
But Wuthi said Saturday the police have been unable to prove those reports.
He said investigators have found no records showing the men were carrying large sums of cash, adding, "They certainly did not declare to the customs officers they brought in the money."


© 2006 Kyodo News. All rights reserved. No reproduction or republication without written permission.

[Begbie]

Shooting of a New Zealand national


It appears that the recent case of murder involving the shooting of a New Zealand national has now come to its conclusion. Police Lieutenant General Jongrak, the Region 2 Commander of Police conducted this press conference and announced that the shooter had been located and his accomplice had been arrested along with one of Mr Millers' wives, Khun Gintana, who had been charged with conspiracy to murder.

Also in attendance at this press conference were members of Mr. Miller’s family from New Zealand including his wife, Mrs. Miller. A presentation of flowers to the General demonstrated their appreciation that the case had been solved in a speedy and professional manner.

The two men accused of conspiring to murder Mr. Miller are Khun Walatit aged 24 who is already in custody and Khun Yiamwoot aged 25 who is accused of shooting Mr. Miller. He is now thought to be in Sonkla Province in the South of Thailand and a warrant has already been issued for his arrest which is expected to take place soon He is also the boyfriend of Khun Gintana who although claimed to be married to Mr. Miller, we can confirm that they never signed a marriage certificate.

She was involved in an illegal steroid export business where the body enhancing drugs would be sold to other countries and the money would be sent to Khun Gintana’s Thai bank account. Mr. Miller confronted her just before the murder and a physical altercation took place as he demanded she hand over the money from the steroid sales.

Khun Gintana and her Thai boyfriend had formulated a plan to kill him and keep the money. Although the plan was successful Khun Gintana is now in custody and her boyfriend’s arrest is imminent. A fascinating conclusion to a horrific murder case.

-Pattaya City News
Monday 24th April 2006

[Crackajack]

It could be said that it is never dull in Thailand. I am just impressed that he had four wives on the go...lucky man.

[Dougal]

They were "brutally murdered with 32-mm bullets,"

Is that a typo?

[Troubled]

It could be said that it is never dull in Thailand. I am just impressed that he had four wives on the go...lucky man.

His luck i don't need

[Crackajack]

It could be said that it is never dull in Thailand. I am just impressed that he had four wives on the go...lucky man.

His luck i don't need

I wounder if his four wives were just a typo in the hall of records.

[dirtydog]

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Monday 24th April 2006

Swiss man killed in motorbike versus pick-up collision in Central Pattaya.
A road accident now from from a small Soi off of the Siam Country Club Road which resulted in the death of a Swiss man. Police were called to the location to investigate this pick-up versus motorbike accident. The motorbike was driven by Mr. Roland George Staufer aged 45 from Switzerland who, according to witness accounts, failed to stop at a four way intersection and collided with a Toyota Tiger Pick-up driven by Khun Wantannee aged 30 who could not stop in time to avoid this high speed collision. The basket on Mr. Staufer’s bike was full of empty beer cans which may suggest he was under the influence of alcohol at the time. Police are now waiting for the results of a toxicology report on Mr. Staufer and Police arrested Khun Wantannee until they can determine the exact chain-of-events leading to the crash.

[dirtydog]

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Monday 24th April 2006

Mystery surrounds an apparent suicide case from Third Road Hotel.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Sutum from Pattaya Police Station was called to the J A Villas on Pattaya Third Road after hotel staff reported a man who had just fallen from one of the hotel balconies. At the scene, Police inspected the body of Mr. Craig Hulme aged 30 from England. He was lying in front of the main entrance and was known to be staying in room number 504 on the 5th Floor. Beside his body was a friend who did not want to speak with us but was clearly distraught at what had happened. Inside the man’s room was a bottle of beer on the balcony and according to telephone records, his last call was made to England, just a few hours before the incident. He had gone out and returned to his room just 15 minutes before he fell from the Balcony. Although any motive for a suicide is not yet known, the possibility of a third party being involved in the case has not been discounted. Police tell us that they expect the call made to England may have something to do with the case and they believe he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the fall. The British Embassy in Bangkok have been informed.

[Whiteshiva]

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Monday 24th April 2006

Mystery surrounds an apparent suicide case from Third Road Hotel.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Sutum from Pattaya Police Station was called to the J A Villas on Pattaya Third Road after hotel staff reported a man who had just fallen from one of the hotel balconies. At the scene, Police inspected the body of Mr. Craig Hulme aged 30 from England. He was lying in front of the main entrance and was known to be staying in room number 504 on the 5th Floor. Beside his body was a friend who did not want to speak with us but was clearly distraught at what had happened. Inside the man’s room was a bottle of beer on the balcony and according to telephone records, his last call was made to England, just a few hours before the incident. He had gone out and returned to his room just 15 minutes before he fell from the Balcony. Although any motive for a suicide is not yet known, the possibility of a third party being involved in the case has not been discounted. Police tell us that they expect the call made to England may have something to do with the case and they believe he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the fall. The British Embassy in Bangkok have been informed.

Why do the think it is suicide, rather than an accident. With the low balcony railings many hotel and apartments have, a normal sized person could easily fall over.

[dirtydog]

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Saturday 6th May 2006

Body of an Estonian man recovered from the sea off Pattaya Beach.
Police Major Sirapop from Pattaya Police Station was called to the North end of Pattaya Beach on Saturday Morning to investigate the drowning of a foreign man. Beach-goers noticed, what appeared to be, a body floating face-down in the water and immediately alerted Police. Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene and recovered the body of Mr. Mati Baranov aged 35 from Estonia. Police estimate the man had been dead for at least 10 hours. He was wearing shorts and no shirt. An initial inspection of the body showed no evidence of a trauma and Police theorize he got into difficulties and drowned. Suggestions of cramping were offered but the investigating team are now awaiting the results of a post mortem examination before they proceed with the case. At this point, Police are attempting to track down family or friends of the deceased who may be staying with him here in Pattaya and the Estonian Embassy based in Bangkok are also conducting their own investigation into the incident.

[dirtydog]

Belgian found hanged

CHALONG: A 66-year-old Belgian man was found dead in his home on Tuesday, apparently having committed suicide.

Police reported that the man, whom they named as Jose Wiame, had hanged himself. Two empty beer bottles and a note accusing his wife of cheating him and deserting him were found next to the body.

The suicide note, addressed to his wife, accused her of tricking him into opening a restaurant for her and then causing him to lose 3 million baht before abandoning him.

He finished the letter by vowing to haunt her through all her future lives and wrote that from now on she would have no happiness.

The body of Mr Wiame was discovered by volunteers from the Phuket Ruamjai Rescue Foundation and officers from Chalong Police Station after the dead man's landlord reported that something seemed to be amiss.

Mr Wiame was found in a semi-kneeling position with a mobile phone still in his left hand. The noose around his neck was attached at the other end to a beam. There were no signs of a struggle.

Pol Lt Col Jetsada, the officer in charge of the case, said, “Mr Wiame and his wife ran a restaurant in Karon until it closed down at the end of last year. They were often heard arguing. Three or four days ago, she disappeared.

“Mr Wiame’s body has been officially identified and is being kept at the Phuket Wachira Hospital awaiting instructions from the Belgium embassy,” he added.



phuket gazette