Italian man gunned down in Phuket

PHUKET: An Italian man in his 40s was shot dead while riding from the Heroines Monument to Pa Khlok at about 10pm last night.

Police know the identity of the man but the Gazette is withholding publication pending notice of next of kin.

The man’s body was found lying on the road about 200 meters from the entrance to the Bang Pae Waterfall, with his red Honda Click rental motorbike lying nearby.

Thalang police found three 11mm bullet casings and three unspent 11mm bullets at the scene.

The man had been shot four times: once in the left of his chest, once in his right collarbone, once in his left abdomen and once in his left wrist.

Police found 22,100 baht cash in the man’s shorts, but not in a wallet.

Police investigating the shooting said that they had contacted the rental bike shop owner.

The man was staying at the Dara Hotel on the bypass road. He apparently had a bungalow business on Phi Phi Island, officers said.

Police are continuing their investigation.

— Wichai Witthawat