Phuket Police rule out “Nui’ as suspect in missing Nong Dear probe

PHUKET: Chalong Police today ruled out the Bangkok Monster “Nui” as a prime suspect in the Phuket Nong Dear case.

Known only as Nui, as police have yet to release his full name, the prime suspect in the case that has outraged the nation confessed on live television to the abduction and rape of “about 10 girls”.

He also confessed to killing some of them (story here).

However, Capt Thada Sodarak of the Chalong Police today ruled out Nui as a suspect in the possible abduction of missing Phuket girl Natthapa “Nong Dear” Papkaew, 7, who disappeared on December 6 (story here).

“It can’t be Nui, as the CCTV footage in Bangkok placed him in Bang Na on the same day that Nong Dear disappeared,” he said.

“However, we have contacted the officers involved in the Nui case to make sure that he was not carrying out his crimes as part of a larger network,” Capt Thada said.

Meanwhile, the search for Nong Dear continues.

“We have five plainclothes officers assigned to the case and they are continuing to question residents in the area in the hope of turning up some clue that might lead us to finding Nong Dear,” Capt Thada said.

“As mentioned yesterday, we have already checked what CCTV footage is available in the area, but that has resulted in no leads at all,” he added.

Additional reporting by Irfarn Jamdukor

— Saran Mitrarat