Police suspect murder in death of jet-ski operator

PATONG: The body of a Thai jet-ski operator was found near the Nakalay viewpoint, near the Thavorn Beach Village Hotel, on Friday afternoon. Although the cause of death has yet to be established, the police are treating it as murder. Local fisherman, who had noticed a foul smell, discovered the body on the rocks 20 meters below the Nakalay viewpoint on the road from Patong to Kamala. A relative identified the body as that of Boonsung Wassana, 26, from Kathu, who operated a jet-ski off Patong Beach. The relative had reported him missing last Tuesday, only hours after he had last seen him leaving Soi Sunset, Patong, with an unidentified woman, following a lengthy drinking session. The relative also told police that a 27,000-baht gold chain that K.Boonsung normally wore was missing from his body. Pol Maj Sa-nguan Muangthum, of Kathu Police Station, declined to suggest a motive for the murder. A post-mortem examination at Patong Hospital revealed that the man had died about four days before his body was discovered. The body has been sent to Bangkok for further examination.