Thai woman surrenders to police after slitting debtor’s throat

A Thai woman turned herself in after slitting the throat of a female debtor during a funeral at a temple in the southern province of Songkhla yesterday.

The shocking attack occurred in front of many locals attending the funeral at Jating Phra Temple in the Sathing Phra district of Songkhla at about 12.15am on Sunday, October 20. The victim was a 36 year old Thai woman named Wilaiporn, while the attacker was her 58 year old loan shark, Sawai.

According to witnesses, Wilaiporn was sitting and talking with a group of more than 10 people at a table within the temple. Witnesses saw Sawai walking back and forth around the table several times but did not pay much attention to her actions.

Suddenly, Sawai approached Wilaiporn from behind, pulled her head back, and immediately slit her throat with a knife. The brutal attack left others in shock, allowing Sawai to escape the temple on her motorcycle. The knife was left at the scene.

Some bystanders tried to chase Sawai and stop her but were unsuccessful. Wilaiporn was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries, and her condition remains unstable.

According to residents, the motive for the violent attack was a debt, though the exact amount was not mentioned in the report. Wilaiporn had reportedly borrowed money from Sawai and refused to repay it. The two had previously been involved in a physical altercation over this debt.

Matichon reported that Sawai later surrendered at Sathing Phra Police Station in the evening, accompanied by an influential community leader. She was initially charged with attempted murder.

Wilaiporn’s family urged the media to publish the story, fearing that the injured woman would not receive justice because of Sawai’s connections to influential figures in the community.

It was reported that Sawai was detained from today, October 21, until the hearing in the court. Details of her interrogation were not disclosed in the report.

The penalty for attempted murder is half the punishment for murder, which can be the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for 15 to 20 years.