Two old women attacked; one dead

CHALONG: Police are searching for a man following an attack on Friday morning that left a 66-year-old woman dead and her 70-year-old friend injured. The dead woman has been named as Teema Lakkoh and the injured woman as Maewan Bangjak. Pol Maj Sanae Panmee of the Chalong Police Station told the Gazette that the women were out sifting through trash opposite the Rawai Tambon Administration Organization offices on Wiset Rd at around 5 am when the incident happened. Both women made a living by sorting through garbage for valuable or recyclable items. K. Maewan told officers that a man had approached her and K. Teema suggesting they collect trash from another area. Thinking that he was a fellow trash-collector who had found a good source, they followed him. As K. Maewan went to walk past the man he grabbed hold of her and locked his arm around her neck. She managed to break free and ran away to get help. The attacker then set upon K. Teema who was later found dead in a canal, having apparently been beaten. Reports that she had also been sexually assaulted were denied by police. K. Maewan was treated at Wachira Phuket hospital for shock and injuries to her neck and jaw and is now being cared for by her relatives. Police have yet to establish a motive for the attack, though the families of the two women have said they believe “business rivalry” may be the reason. Police have urged anyone with information to contact them at Chalong police station at Tel: 076-381247.