Love-and-loan tryst ends in murder

PHUKET CITY: Furniture contractor Sophol Marapong, 32, was found stabbed to death in Suan Luang Park on Friday night after a clandestine meeting over love and money went sour. He had been stabbed 22 times. Pol Maj Watcharin Jiratikarnwiwat, an Inspector at Phuket City Police Station, told the Gazette that police arrived at the scene about 10:30 pm, after receiving a call from a passer-by who discovered the body. “He had been robbed of 150,000 baht and his mobile phone. The following day we questioned and arrested Sureerat Soonamporn, at her house in Phuket City, in connection with the murder,” he said. Maj Watcharin explained that Sureerat, 36, is the older sister of 30-year-old Saokaew Fongnam, K. Sophol’s live-in partner for more than 10 years. K. Sophol and Sureerat had been secret lovers for some time. “K. Saokaew was shocked to hear of the murder. She is due to give birth to K. Sophol’s baby in about three months,” he said. Maj Watcharin said Sureerat explained that she had decided to teach K. Sophol a lesson because of his “butterfly” ways, and at the same time to get as much money from him as possible. She called him and told him she wanted to borrow 100,000 baht, and set up a meeting with him in the park. But when K. Sophol arrived at the rendezvous, he was attacked by two men whom Sureerat had hired to beat him up and rob him. “She was angry with K. Sophol because of his philandering and she knew he would be bringing 150,000 baht with him,” Maj Watcharin said. Sureerat told police that although she was angry with K. Sophol, she didn’t want him dead. “When she saw one of the men draw a knife and stab K. Sophol, she got scared and ran away,” Maj Watcharin said. “She told police that she did not know the two men well. Maybe they killed K. Sophol because they were afraid he could identify them – K. Sophol knew many police officers and was an important person,” he added. Sureerat named only one of the killers, who goes by the nickname “Iad”. The money is presumed to have been taken by the duo. K. Sophol’s body has been taken to his home province of Trang for cremation. Sureerat has been charged with conspiracy to murder.