Land brokers in murder-suicide

THALANG: A local land broker shot dead his female business partner and then turned the gun on himself in a murder-suicide last Sunday.

The incident occurred at Manas House rented apartments on Thepkrasattri Rd in Srisoonthorn.

After the owner of the apartment block heard gunshots, he called the police, who arrived at the scene about 5 pm, Pol Maj Prakob Boonkwun told the Gazette.

The police found the body of Phuket native Prasong Ubonmanee, 72, on the bed, lying across the body of Somporn Petduang, 49, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat.

Prasong was dressed only in white underwear. Somporn was fully clothed.

“The apartment-block owner said that Prasong had checked in at 12:30 pm and Somporn later joined him in the room,” Maj Prakob told the Gazette.

“She had been shot twice in the chest. He had held her down with one hand and shot her with the other.

“One of the shots went through his own left hand, through her chest and out her back. He then he shot himself in the right temple,” he added.

“I don’t know what happened between them in the room. Somporn had borrowed about 300,000 baht from Prasong and apparently she didn’t want to see him.

“Both were land brokers. They had worked together as agents selling land,” Maj Prokob said.

“There are two possible motives: debt and adultery. I am continuing my investigation and interviewing their relatives and other people who knew them well,” he added.