Patong murder suspect arrested

PATONG: The alleged murderer of a go-go dancer is now in Phuket Provincial Prison, following his December 23 arrest in Bangkok by a team of Kathu Police investigators. The man, identified as 26-year-old Akharadech “James” Phusuwan, was arrested without struggle in his native Bangkok following an investigation led by Pol Maj Chawalit Petchsripia. Akharadech was wanted for the August 20 stabbing death of 41-year-old Pranee Asari, an employee of the well-known RockHard A-Go-Go on Soi Bangla. Pol Capt Sa-nguan Muanthum, of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette that Akharadech had confessed to charges of murdering K. Pranee, his ex-girlfriend, after she refused to get back together with him. Her body was discovered in her rented room by her niece, 22-year-old Pachanee Rattabhat, who went to check on her after learning that she had failed to report to work for two nights. According to police, after stabbing the victim in the stomach, chest and neck on the evening of August 20, Akharadech fled to the capital, where he was finally taken into custody in a rented apartment in Bang Kholaem district. Police said that they needed four months to have an arrest warrant issued and gather evidence while keeping track of Akharadech’s movements. They said he had changed locations many times before finally renting the Bangkok flat. Akharadech has yet to post bail.