Rotted corpse found behind Wat Chalong

CHALONG: The badly decomposed body of an unidentified man, who police believe may have died about six months ago from a drug overdose, was found behind Wat Chalong yesterday morning. Pol Col Sati Malakanont, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, today told the Gazette that he and other officers went to investigate the gruesome discovery after a local resident called the station at 10:30 am. The caller said that he had found a body lying under a tree while he was looking for herbs in the small copse. The body was so decomposed that the officers could not immediately identify the gender of the corpse, although it was later confirmed that it was that of a man. Col Sati said, “The dead man looked like he was sleeping under the tree. He was wearing only shorts and had used his T-shirt as a pillow.” No identification was found on the body, but officers did find 40 baht in the pockets of the shorts. Col Sati said, “I believe the man was taking drugs and died of an overdose.” The body was taken to Wachira Phuket Hospital, where an autopsy confirmed that the corpse was that of a man who had been dead about six months. Doctors found no wounds on the body, nor any evidence of drug abuse. The remains are now being kept at the Chalong-based Kupai Foundation, where the corpse will stay until it is either identified or buried. Anyone with information that may help identify the body is asked to call Chalong Police Station at 076-280511 or 076-381974.