Footballer beaten to death in Rawai
RAWAI: A fisherman and promising amateur footballer was beaten to death by a gang of young men while he was on his way home from a party in Rawai early yesterday morning.
Police named the victim as 21-year-old Santi Naunyai, known locally as “Ai Boy”, who had gained a reputation in the local soccer league as a promising young player.
Pol Lt Col Sirisak Wasasiri, Deputy Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, said, “On the night of his death, the victim had been to a friend’s birthday party in Rawai. On his way home he was attacked by five young men who dragged him onto Rawai Beach and beat him with an iron pipe.”
Police later yesterday morning arrested four fisherman sleeping in their two longtail boats.
The four suspects, named by police as Jalan Rerngkij, Banrae Rerngsamooth, Somkiat Panthip and Theerapat Apdulraman, all from Baan Maphrao, had blood stains on their clothing but denied the charges, Col Sirisak said.
A fifth suspect, whose name has not yet been released by police, later gave himself up at Chalong Police Station. He also denied any involvement in the attack.
Col Sirisak said that Santi and his friends had fought with the gang earlier in the week and that revenge was the motive for the killing.
