Loan Shark Conflict Suspected After Man Found Dead in Phatthalung Plantation
PHATTHALUNG — A suspected conflict within a loan shark gang may have led to the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man whose body was discovered in a palm plantation in Phatthalung province on August 6.
The body was found around 4pm by a local 67-year-old woman and her husband while walking through the plantation. They initially thought the man might be the owner of the land but quickly realized he was not a local and contacted Mueang Phatthalung Police.
The couple also reported hearing four gunshots early that morning around 5am, followed by two additional shots ten minutes later. They weren’t certain if the sounds were connected to the murder.
When officers arrived on the scene, they found the victim lying face-down in a ditch. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the neck, right shoulder, and body. Dressed in a black t-shirt and trousers, the man had been dead for at least eight hours.
Identity and Clues Point to Loan Shark Activity
Police later identified the victim as Surasak, a 22-year-old man from Yasothon province in northeastern Thailand. Found nearby was a bag containing personal items including:
- An ID card
- A pair of glasses
- Floral shorts
- A handwritten letter addressed to his mother
- A list of names, believed to be loan shark debtors
The emotional note written to his mother suggested that Surasak was in desperate circumstances, possibly trying to escape a dangerous situation. The letter read:
“I want to go home, Mother. Please help me. I miss you, Mother. I hope you can find someone who can help me. If I have to wait for the money from your land sale, I may be (the message was crossed out). I want to go home. I miss you and Em very much. Anyone, please help. Please save my life. I want to have a better life.”
This plea for help and the presence of documents listing potential debtors led investigators to suspect that Surasak may have been involved in collecting debts for a loan shark gang and possibly became entangled in a dispute that led to his murder.
Police Investigate Gang Connection
Authorities are now investigating whether Surasak was working for a local loan shark operation or if he had become a target after attempting to leave the organization. The handwritten debtor list could serve as a critical lead in uncovering the structure of the illegal money-lending network and identifying those behind the murder.
Officers from Mueang Phatthalung Police Station are working to trace the listed names, interview witnesses, and review any surveillance footage from nearby areas. They are also looking into how Surasak ended up in Phatthalung, far from his home province of Yasothon.
A Grim Reminder of Loan Shark Violence
This case underscores the ongoing issue of illegal loan shark networks operating across Thailand, often exploiting vulnerable individuals. Victims and collectors alike can become trapped in cycles of violence, intimidation, and debt.
Police have urged the public to come forward with any information that could assist in the case and emphasized the importance of addressing the root causes of underground lending that often lead to tragic consequences.
The investigation remains ongoing.
