Phuket police grill prime suspect in karaoke girl murder

PHUKET: The prime suspect in the investigation into the murder of a karaoke hostess whose body was found south of Patong on Tuesday presented himself at Chalong Police Station yesterday morning.

Phitsanulok native Nipon “Maew” Pongpanit, 20, was subjected to more than 10 hours of questioning by police.

He was wanted for questioning over the rape and murder of his former girlfriend, Anicha “Nan” Khaigunha, 21, a hostess at a karaoke bar in Patong.

Mr Nipon, who lives in Kathu, arrived at Chalong Police Station at about 11am shortly after his close friend Aot Nanmuang, 18, from Petchabun, who lives in Karon.

Despite the marathon grilling by Inspector Lt Col Jaran Bangprasert, who is leading the murder investigation, both denied killing Ms Anicha, saying they knew nothing of her murder until Col Jaran told them about it.

The last time they had seen the victim was on the night of September 8 at her home on Nanai Rd, they said.

The suspects were released after 9pm.

Col Jaran said the investigation so far had revealed that Ms Anicha was flirtatious and had many boyfriends, which led officers to believe jealousy was the prime motive for the killing.

The gruesome murder, which left Ms Anicha’s head caved in and her body left to rot in the hills south of Patong, has left its mark on Ong-ard Kongkaew, the waterworks contractor employee who discovered her body.

He told the Gazette that he has returned to work in the area, but he does so in fear.

After finding the body he returned to work repairing water pipes in the area, but the solvent used to meld the plastic pipes together no longer worked, he said.

Believing the site to now be haunted, Ong-ard returned to the scene yesterday with eight friends and monks to perform an exorcism to ensure Ms Anicha’s spirit leaves the area in peace.

“Before I found her body I used to bring a few friends with me up into the hills. Now, I will never return to that place,” he said.