A 27-year-old man was arrested in Thailand after the murder of 57-year-old Swiss woman Rita N. *. As the police announced on Sunday, Teerawat T. * confessed to the crime.
Thai media report that the man was looking for wild orchids near the waterfall where the Swiss woman’s body was found. Then he saw the Swiss woman’s bag. He was excited and grabbed the woman, which she resisted.
But she had no chance: “Bang Lee”, as the man is called by friends, used to be a professional kickboxer. He choked the Swiss woman and pushed her head under water until she stopped fighting.
Arrested a year ago
In an unusual police press conference, where he was interviewed live by journalists over the phone, the suspect claimed he took 300 baht (around 8 francs) from the victim’s pocket and spent most of it on marijuana. He also protested that he did not want to kill the woman.
The police are bringing two charges: one of robbery and one of murder. An autopsy of the victim is supposed to prove whether the perpetrator tried to rape the victim or not. “Clear evidence is needed to determine the suspect’s true intentions, as his statements appear only partially reliable,” said national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk.
The man has been unemployed for two years. Last year he was arrested by police for drug possession. (gf / kes)
* Name known to the editor
Swiss Honorary Consul: “This is a sad day for Phuket”(00:32)