Tour agent’s throat slashed

KATHU: Tung Tong Police are investigating the death of Sommai Chumee, 37, a travel agency representative found with his throat slashed in his home at the Irawadee Ketho residential development on Friday afternoon.

Tung Tong Police Inspector Lt Col Kittipong Klaikaew confirmed reports in the local and national press that the victim had been stabbed repeatedly in the neck but had sustained no other injuries.

He said the murder was probably carried out in the early hours of Friday.

Restaurant worker and friend Attiket Chanwongsepaisal found K. Sommai, originally from Phatthalung province, lying face up and naked on his bed about 1 pm, Col Kittpong confirmed.

Initial investigations revealed that the victim had been working as a representative for two local tour agencies, he said.

Col Kittipong denied reports that the victim had been robbed of 800,000 baht in cash, including pounds sterling, and other valuables including a laptop computer.

None of the people police have questioned reported that K. Sommai had that much cash, he said.

However, Col Kittipong added that one Caucasian friend of the deceased said that he had lost a few tens of thousands of baht that had given to K. Sommai for safe keeping.

Police are investigating a wide range of motives for the murder, including jealously and a possible business dispute.

Police have not ruled out that the killing may have been the result of a break-in and robbery attempt.

Col Kittipong declined to comment on reports that the police have information about a young male suspect from Songkhla’s Haad Yai district who was seen with victim before his death and is presumed to have been one of his lovers.

Fearing that making a statement could jeopardize the investigation, Col Kittipong said more information would be disclosed only when an arrest in the case is imminent.