Sketch of murder suspect hits glitch

PHUKET: Composition of a police sketch of the foreigner wanted for killing a Thai restaurateur three days ago has hit a snag: the computer used to create the sketches is unable to handle Western faces. Pol Maj Gen Kongpol Suwannaraks, commander of Phuket Provincial Police, told the Gazette that “Yesterday my officers took the witness [the dead man’s wife] to Surat Thani to help compose a sketch of the gunman on the computer there. “But the computer could not create the picture without the wanted man looking like a Thai. So the sketch will have to be done by hand instead.” It is expected to be ready by tomorrow. Police now have a list of three possible motives for Tuesday’s murder of Lor-man Karnjanasadoong, 46, owner of the Alex Restaurant on Bang Tao Beach. These are: · a conflict arising from the restaurant business; · a conflict with a foreign “mafia” group; or · a private quarrel. Police say they are investigating this case with particular diligence because the gunman is a foreigner, he killed a Thai, and he does not respect Thai law. The Phuket Immigration Department is sifting through its records on foreigners to see whether it can find any clues. Charnchai Soontharamut, the governor of Phuket, said today that he is receiving regular reports from the police. He added that it is believed the killer has already left Phuket, most probably by boat.