CSD called in after diver’s disappearance

KAMALA: The family of missing divemaster Phikun “Nori” Srisaksungnoen traveled to Bangkok on December 22 and filed a missing-person report with the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), which is now investigating the disappearance independently of Kathu Police Station. K. Nori’s mother, 54-year-old Soi Mungpanklang, and her younger sister Thanachat Srisaksungnoen, 23, told CSD officials that the investigation by Kathu Police Station had stalled, and that they had reason to believe K. Nori was murdered by her German ex-husband. They fear that he disposed of her body by feeding it to one of the more than 200 snakes kept on his large hillside estate in Kamala – a claim that her ex-husband rejects. The story has been widely and colorfully published in the Thai press, but police officers confirm that no charges have been laid. They say they have yet to discover meaningful evidence, and that the ex-husband has been cooperating with them in their investigations. K. Nori, 25, was last seen at about 10 pm on November 29 at a bar in Kamala, where she had been celebrating with friends after a dive. Her family members, who also live in Kamala, said her disappearance was strange because she left behind her car and two children, who are now being cared for by their father. K. Phikun ended the relationship with her husband about six months ago after 10 years of living together as man and wife in an unregistered marriage which began when K. Nori was just 15 years old. Apparently the estranged couple continued to live on the same estate even after the marriage ended. CSD interrogator Pol Capt Direk Chomyong told the Gazette that the family was concerned that K. Pikun’s estranged husband might have murdered her in a jealous rage because she had taken a new lover. They also feared that he fed her body to a snake, adding that one of his three-meter pythons had gone missing. Capt Direk quoted K. Thanachat as telling him that K. Nori and her ex-husband fought many times because he was jealous of her new boyfriend. They told the CSD that until late on the evening of November 29, neighbors often reported hearing screams coming from the house, but that after that there was only silence, and nobody had seen K Nori since. Kathu Police Station Superintendent Pol Col Chalit Thinthani told the Gazette that he had not yet been contacted by the CSD. He confirmed that a search of the grounds had turned up one of K. Pikun’s shoes, which was stained with blood. Col Chalit said, “[The husband] keeps more that 200 snakes in his home, but he denies killing his wife. He told us that K. Nori [probably] ran away with her lover. While we were there, he allowed the police to make a search.” Col Chalit said that a check had revealed that all of the snakes were legally registered and were used for educational purposes. He added that Kathu Police will continue to investigate. “A few days ago somebody told us they saw somebody that looks like K. Nori walking along Patong Beach,” he added. Marcus Etter of Merlin Divers, where K. Nori had worked, described the missing woman as his business partner and told the Gazette that he had still not been contacted by her. He is offering a 50,000-baht reward for her return. Anyone who has seen K. Nori is asked to notify his or her local police station, or to contact Mr Etter at 076-385518, 06-6829861, or infor@merlin-divers.com