Myanmar chef murder suspect arrested in Bangkok

A young man has been arrested for the murder of a 46 year old Myanmar chef, whose body was discovered after two days in a rented room in Samut Prakan’s Bang Phli district. The incident has taken a disturbing turn as the suspect revealed his motives and the sequence of events leading up to the crime.

Police apprehended 24 year old Ye Lin Lin from Myanmar, outside a shopping mall in Bangkok’s Rama II area. This arrest was made yesterday, July 23, at 4pm, following the discovery of the victim’s mobile phone and ATM card in Ye’s possession. The suspect had attempted to sell the phone near the mall, which ultimately led to his capture.

Through an interpreter, Ye recounted his arrival in Thailand through Mae Sot with intentions to find work. Initially, he sought employment in Chon Buri but was unsuccessful, leading him to Bang Phli where he met the victim. The victim invited him to stay in his room while he looked for work, and for nine days, Ye lived with the victim, who provided him with food and shelter.

Trouble began when the victim started a relationship with a younger Thai man and began bringing the new partner into the room. This sparked jealousy and led to frequent arguments.

According to Ye, during one such altercation, the victim pushed him, causing him to hit his head against a wall. The situation escalated when both parties armed themselves with knives, resulting in Ye slashing the victim’s throat. As the victim fell, the suspect used the victim’s knife to stab him repeatedly.

“I tried to cover his mouth, but it wasn’t enough, so I stuffed a cloth in his mouth.”

Aftermath and confession

After ensuring the victim was dead, Ye washed up, changed clothes, and bandaged his head to avoid suspicion. He then disposed of the blood-stained clothes and the murder weapon by throwing them into a canal near a HomePro store, leaving another knife in the room.

Following the crime, Ye travelled to the Mo Chit area but struggled due to his inability to speak or understand Thai. He ended up sleeping in public areas, including bus stops near Big C Rama II. He used the victim’s ATM card to withdraw money and sold the mobile phone for 700 baht.

Ye explained that he did not return to Myanmar to avoid military conscription and battlefield duties. He expressed regret, bowing and apologising to the Thai people, urging others not to follow in his footsteps.

Police Colonel Pairoj Phetploy of Bang Phli Police Station stated that the victim and the suspect had known each other for nine days and had quickly become romantically involved. The investigation will continue with further questioning and legal proceedings, reported KhaoSod.