Phuket police struggle to identify dead foreigner

PHUKET: Dysfunctional CCTV cameras in the area where a foreigner was killed after allegedly jumping in front of a bus on Wednesday (story here) have left police clueless.

“We had hoped to find CCTV footage showing where the man had come from so that we could identify him and track down his relatives or friends. However, we came up empty handed,” Maj Pattapee Srichai of the Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette. “At this stage, we can only hope that someone recognizes him from our own picture [above*] and steps forward with more information.”

Bus driver Somkhit Wongpan, 33, told officers that he saw the man standing by the road, looking at the bus as it made its way down Patong Hill. The man walked into the road, but Mr Somkhit switched lanes in order to avoid hitting him. However, the man allegedly jumped in front of the bus as it was passing him.

The man’s shoes were found on the side of the road, which police believe backs the bus driver’s account of the incident.

“Mr Somkhit’s story was also corroborated by witnesses on the bus,” said Maj Pattapee.

* The picture of the man was removed following his identification.

— Kongleaphy Keam