Cambodian connection: Police arrest man for brutal Lopburi murder

Police arrested a Cambodian man in connection with the murder of a Cambodian woman in a rented room in the central province of Lopburi. The suspect claimed that a conflict with her brother was the root cause.

The lifeless body of the 30 year old Cambodian victim, Mab, was discovered in her unlocked rented room in the Phatthana Nikhom district of Lopburi province on Monday, September 2. She sustained more than 10 deep cuts to her neck, yet all of her valuables remained untouched.

This led the police to rule out robbery as a possible motive. Instead, they suspected that her death might be sexually related, given her beauty.

Bloody clothes and shoes found near the scene led the police to the suspect, a Cambodian man named Angsom, who worked at the same place as Mab. Angsom was summoned for questioning at Phatthana Nikhom Police Station, where he initially denied the accusations.

However, Angsom eventually surrendered to the evidence presented by the police, claiming that he did not intend to kill Mab. He explained that his conflict was with her younger brother, not her.

Angsom stated that he went to the rented room to resolve the issue with Mab’s brother but, when he wasn’t there, he ended up arguing with Mab. She then allegedly threatened him with a kitchen knife.

The heated argument escalated into a physical altercation. Angsom disclosed that they struggled for control of the knife and he overpowered her. Once in possession of the knife, he repeatedly slashed Mab’s neck until she died.

Angsom said he discarded the knife behind the rented room and disposed of his bloody clothes in a rubbish bin.

Channel 7 reported that Angsom’s wife and other family members visited him at the police station but the police did not allow them to meet him. The family refused to speak to the media.

The police have not yet clarified the legal charges or potential punishment facing Angsom. However, under Section 288 of the Criminal Code, which covers intentional murder, he could face the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for 15 to 20 years, in line with similar cases.

ORIGINAL STORY: Cambodian woman found dead with multiple stab wounds

A young Cambodian woman was found dead in her rented room with over ten stab wounds to her neck yesterday, September 1, after a brutal attack by suspected secret admirers. Her sister discovered the gruesome scene upon returning from work, finding the victim lying in a pool of blood.

Police were alerted to the incident at 7.20am yesterday, by Santi Phonruang, an investigator at Phatthana Nikhom Police Station. The crime took place in a single-storey rental room in the Chong Sarika sub-district of Phatthana Nikhom district, Lopburi province.

Santi, along with Police Colonel Chaiyachai Nathonkan and a team of investigators, rushed to the scene accompanied by volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation.

Inside the room, police found the dead body of 30 year old Mab, a Cambodian national. She was lying face down, dressed in a red shirt and black trousers. Her neck bore over ten deep cuts from a sharp object. Initial examinations suggested a violent struggle had taken place before Mab was fatally wounded.

The scene was distressing. Nearby, an electric rice cooker and a laundry basket were found beside the body. Scattered around the room were belongings including more than 3,000 baht in cash and a gold necklace weighing approximately 1 baht, lying next to a table. These findings led police to believe that robbery was not the motive.

Bare footprints and shoe prints on the floor indicated the presence of at least two perpetrators. Investigators speculated that the assailants might not have intended to steal but rather sought to commit a sexual assault. The victim possibly resisted, leading to the fatal attack.

Harrowing discovery

The victim’s sister revealed that she rented the room alongside Mab and their brother, who had returned to Cambodia. The victim’s sister works for a local company and had just returned from a night shift when she found the door slightly open. Upon entering, she discovered the horrific crime scene.

Police are still investigating the case and have not yet determined a definitive motive. However, they gathered that Mab was a beautiful young woman who had several admirers. It is suspected that someone known to Mab, possibly with intentions of a sexual nature, might have murdered her after she resisted.

The police have tasked volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation with transporting Mab’s body to the Forensic Science Department at the Ministry of Justice for further examination, reported KhaoSod.

While the investigation continues, the police are focusing on identifying the suspects and establishing the exact sequence of events leading to Mab’s tragic death. The community remains on edge as they await further developments in this harrowing case.