Another local businessman assassinated
THALANG: Well-known local property developer Suriya “Aud” Chaowanich, 49, was shot dead in his Cherng Talay home last night.
K. Suriya was the managing director of Phutawan Residence & Spa and owner of Phuket Laguna Riding Club.
Thalang Police Superintendent Pol Col Chinnarat Rittakananond told the Gazette the victim was shot in the house where he lived with his lover.
“We think that the victim was making tea, at about 8pm, when he was shot at close range, and therefore assume that he knew the murderer well. Apparently, there was no one else present at the time except his lover, who said she doesn’t know anything and didn’t see who was coming and going from the house. This makes our investigation very difficult,” he said.
“We are focusing our investigation on his land business at Layan to find out whether a business dispute could have been the motive. We have already questioned K. Suriya’s lover and his [K. Suriya’s] secretary. We will question his lover further to determine why she does not know who came to the house before the killing,” Col Chinnarat said.
“We collected some bullet fragments at the scene. We think the weapon used was a .357. It appears that the victim was shot three times in the head, but we have to wait for the autopsy results to be sure,” he added.
