Gang rivalry blamed for violent death

WICHIT: Police suspect gang rivalry as the motive behind the killing of a young Thalang man whose body was found riddled with bullets early on Saturday.

Pol Lt Col Sompong Boonrat, a Deputy Inspector at the Phuket City Police Station, identified the victim as Pongsakorn “Kho” Naksuk, 24.

Pongsakorn was shot several times in the upper arms, head and back with a .357-caliber weapon. His body was found lying face up next to his motorcycle near the Villa Suanluang project construction site, on the new road that runs along the south end of Suan Luang Park.

“The victim originally lived with his family in Thalang District but later moved to Phuket City, where he became involved in a number of unlawful, gang-related activities. For this reason we suspect the murder may have been gang related,” he said.

Col Sompong denied that the victim was employed as a security guard at a well-known golf course in Thalang at the time of his death, as reported in one Thai-language newspaper.

Phuket City Police are continuing their investigation in order to track down the killer, he said.