Unidentified foreigner found tied up, dead in Patong Hill rubber plantation

PHUKET: The body of an unidentified foreigner was found in a rubber plantation on Patong Hill tied up and wrapped in a black plastic bag yesterday afternoon.

“The body was that of a Caucasian man. A plastic bag covered the top half of his body and he was found face down on the ground. His face had obviously been struck with a heavy object and there were several stab wounds in his back,” Thung Thong Police Superintendent Kraithong Chanthongbai said.

The man was between 175 and 185 centimeters tall, about 90 kilograms and in his 30s, police said.

Police suspect the man had been dead for about three days before the local villager discovered the body 2 kilometers from the nearest road on a 10 rai rubber plantation in Kathu.

“The man was probably murdered somewhere else and then dumped here for hiding,” said Col Kraithong.

Police believe there will be several suspects in the case, citing the fact that whoever dumped the body probably was familiar with the plantation and had access to a four-wheel drive vehicle in order to get the body so far away from the nearest road.

“Where the body was found is an isolated location, it is not a surprise someone tried to hide the body there,” said Col Kraithong.

“The body was transferred to Patong hospital for further examination,” he added.

— Chaichana Keowkaow