Surin, Thailand – A 63-year-old Thai man was found murdered in his home in the northeastern province of Surin on Wednesday, June 4. Police are investigating the case as a suspected robbery-homicide, with over 1 million baht worth of gold jewellery missing and four individuals currently under questioning.
The victim, Pratheep Kongthawee, was discovered lifeless near a sofa in his residence in the Mueang district. His body was covered with a red blanket, and he had sustained a stab wound to the neck, just below his left ear. Investigators believe the killer attempted to clean the crime scene using a yellow cloth found nearby, still stained with blood.
According to the victim’s relatives, Pratheep was known for frequently wearing a significant amount of gold jewellery and often carried large amounts of cash—upwards of 50,000 baht. Only a small amount of jewellery was found on his body. Police confirmed that gold accessories valued at over 1 million baht were missing.
Evidence of Break-In and Cleaning Attempt
Police from Sawai Police Station examined the home and found evidence of an attempted break-in at the victim’s bedroom door. However, the door remained unopened, and valuables inside were untouched. The presence of a blood-stained cleaning cloth suggests the perpetrator may have tried to conceal the crime.
Teen Witness Among the Suspects
Initial reports identified a 20-year-old local rescuer as the person who discovered the body. However, it was later confirmed that a 15-year-old boy named Benz was the first to find Pratheep. Benz told police he frequently visited the victim’s home to use the WiFi for gaming. On the day of the murder, he noticed the house was unusually quiet. Upon entering, he found the body and called for help. Benz is currently one of the four individuals under investigation.
Suspects Connected to the Victim
Three additional men are also being questioned by authorities due to their known connections with the victim:
- We, 44, the victim’s nephew, reportedly borrowed 100,000 baht from Pratheep. He told police he last saw his uncle on May 1 and did not comment on whether the debt had been repaid.
- Kung, 26, a frequent visitor to Pratheep’s home, admitted to pawning a gold ring to the victim for 5,000 baht on May 14 and making a partial repayment of 1,050 baht. He denied any romantic involvement and claimed to have been working from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 3 and 4. He said he spent the nights with his girlfriend. Despite this, police noted that Kung was visibly nervous during questioning, which he attributed to depression and anxiety.
- Kritsana, identified as Pratheep’s ex-boyfriend, said he last saw the victim in March. He claimed to have no knowledge of who might have committed the murder but mentioned that Pratheep seemed to have strong feelings for Kung.
Investigation Ongoing
At this stage, no arrests have been made. Police are continuing to collect evidence, interview witnesses, and review any available surveillance footage. The motive appears to be robbery, but investigators are also exploring personal relationship angles, given the victim’s close ties to all four suspects.
The case has drawn attention for its tragic nature, the value of stolen goods, and its potential implications for how crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals are addressed and investigated in Thailand.
