Mortician joins the dead over business conflict, say Krabi police

PHUKET: Police suspect that the motive for the shooting murder of a mortician in Krabi, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket, was a business conflict.

Ajin Chormai, 55, found the body of her husband Niyom Chormai, 60, in a palm oil plantation on Sunday morning. He had eight gunshot wounds to his chest.

Mr Niyom left the house at 8:30am to round up his cattle, Ms Ajin told police.

“At about 9:30am, I went to check on him and found him shot dead,” she said.

Mr Niyom’s body was found about 500 meters from Wat Pho Luen, where he worked as a mortician.

“We are now hunting the shooter,” said Lt Col Somkit Kaosung of the Khao Phanom Police.

“Local residents told us that Mr Niyom was a good, helpful person. Also, he worked as a cow trader, in addition to being a mortician. We believe he was shot over a business conflict,” Col Somkit said.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong