Phuket man found dead in apparent suicide, mental health issues suspected

The tranquillity of a peaceful neighbourhood in Kathu, Phuket was shattered in the early hours of yesterday as a gunshot echoed through the narrow lanes of Soi Si Kor, Moo 6 and a Thai man was found dead. The victim was identified as a 62 year old former school janitor from Patong. His lifeless body was discovered in a two-storey semi-detached house, fallen beside an 11mm Kimber handgun, a solitary bullet wound punctuating his chest.

Kathu Police Deputy Inspector, Police Lieutenant Colonel Adisorn Juhong, received the distress call at 5.45am. Rushing to the scene, he was joined by a phalanx of forensics officers, a team from Vachira Phuket Hospital, and personnel from the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation. They found the victim, Somchai Phitdu, on the second floor of the house, his body sprawled across the bedroom floor.

Saithong Phitsadhu, Somchai’s 60 year old wife, was the first to discover the appalling scene. She recounted to the police how she had been downstairs when the gunshot echoed through their home, propelling her upstairs to find her husband lifeless. The couple had been living alone in the house, leading a quiet life centred around their garden and a sprawling rubber plantation of over 10 rai near Kathu Waterfall, reported The Phuket News.

Saithong, however, painted a worrying picture of her husband’s recent mental state. She reported bouts of depression clouding Somchai’s usual demeanour and hallucinations plaguing his mind, convincing him that someone was out to harm him.

The police have initiated an extensive investigation into Somchai’s death. Fingerprints and gunpowder residue samples have been collected from the scene, with additional fingerprint samples collected from Saithong. Their initial suspicion is that Somchai discharged the firearm himself, but a thorough investigation is underway to substantiate this theory.

In the aftermath of the incident, Somchai’s body was transported to Vachira Phuket Hospital. It will undergo a comprehensive forensic examination before being released to his bereaved family for the funeral proceedings.

If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai), or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress, or depression. Seek help.

Follow more of The Thaiger’s latest stories on our new Facebook page HERE.