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The dead man who has yet to be identified on Phuket after 10 days

Bitten Man's Death Remains Unsolved Mystery

Wednesday, June 3, 2015
PHUKET: Phuketwan takes the rare step tonight of publishing a photograph of a dead man in the hope he may be recognised and identified.

This man's body was found in a secluded part of Phuket 10 days ago, in unusual circumstances.

Was he a tourist or an expat? Phuket police cannot tell us. How did he die? Phuket police cannot tell us.

He does, however, have a bite mark on a knee, probably inflicted by some kind of snake or other animal, and that could have contributed to his demise.

Ten days on, investigating officer Lieutenant Weerayuth of Chalong Police Station has yet to see a pathology report relating to the man's death.

The man was found in scrub country near a secluded beach close to the Baan Krating Resort, which is only accessible along a narrow coastal road from Nai Harn beach, past Ao Sane beach.

He was found lying on his back, eyes open, with his pants rucked down around his ankles, and wearing dark running shoes. Nearby was a full bottle of whisky and an unopened bottle of water. His wallet was also nearby. It contained just 350 baht and no ID documents.

A plastic bag containing three t-shirts and two pairs of pants was just centimetres away.

Two keys were also found, but police inquiries have so far not linked the man to any resort of other accommodation on Phuket.

One theory is that the man was about to have a quiet drink overlooking the beach, but first needed to answer a call of nature. As he was about to relieve himself, with his pants around his ankles, some kind of creature surprised him and bit him.

For the moment, there is no other theory, and no word from anyone who may have once know the man.

Phuketwan previously published the photograph of a man who drowned at a beach and the publication led to the man's identification. We hope we have similar success this time.

Comments

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This demonstrates the lack of competence and professionalism by the police. It is like they are lost without CCTV footage, and have no other investigative tools or technique. How hard can it be to determine if he has snake venom in his system??? At least that possible cause could be confirmed or ruled out. Another bad joke in the Land of Smiles.

Posted by Richard Vickers on June 3, 2015 21:26

Editor Comment:

It's an interesting issue. Full autopsies can only be performed in Bangkok or Surat Thani. There is a cost, usually met by relatives. In this case, one would expect a general sense of urgency from Phuket's honorary consuls. An unidentified person dies an unusual death . . . . and nobody cares. This is Phuket. It is no joke.

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That's a fair point Richard Vickers. After 10 days it may be impossible to determine if there is venom present. The circumstances of death are sufficiently muddy to warrant an immediate autopsy, funded or not.

Posted by geoff on June 3, 2015 22:23

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With all respect to the deceased man on the picture he looks like a middle east man and a perhaps a Syrian. About 80000 thousand of them come to Sweden every year and get permanent residents stay from day one in Sweden with no passport needed (many lie from where they come from). It takes about 3 to five years for a Swedish man to get the same resident stay for his Thai wife and she needs a passport to identify herself at the Swedish border. The 80000 Syrians that come to Sweden throw away their passport before enter Sweden. This man is much looks very likely one of them. 1 years in Sweden then a holiday in Thailand with a fake or temporary passport. I would suggest to start looking at Swedish immigration. But be careful. You could be called a racist and hunted down by Swedish moralists.

Posted by A Joe on June 3, 2015 22:45

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that is, poor toxicologic exeprtise, and in general poor forensic investigation

that what was critised on Koh Tao case - that forensic evidence , in addition, to be taken by independnet professionals, not by police - also for purpose to avoid it is tainted by police

Posted by Sue on June 3, 2015 23:34

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They havn't bothered in the past where a falang has died so why bother now ??

Posted by william on June 3, 2015 23:45

Editor Comment:

There would be a good deal of attention if his nationality was known. It seems rare, william, despite your vast knowledge of the subject, to have a non-Thai die on Phuket so anonymously.

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Amazing that phuket Thailand's second richest province doesn't have a forensic department when lots of other province's do

Posted by Michael on June 4, 2015 08:20

Editor Comment:

There is a forensic section on Phuket but it's not clear whether it has become involved in this case. It's to be hoped that doctors tested for toxins, and that the results can be made available.

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It would be prudent having taken everyone's picture at airports or border crossings if the Police had access to face recognition software to identify him!

Posted by Feisty Farang on June 4, 2015 08:58

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Any foreigner entering Thailand through Immigration has to stand on the foot floor prints in front of the Immigration officer. A photo is than taken. I am sure if a photo at same angle was taken of this man on day of death, a match would have been found by Immigration. Well, it was just a farang, who thai cares?

Posted by Kurt on June 4, 2015 11:51

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My theory is that he may have been in the act of having sex when the couple was surprised by a snake. Out of fear his partner ran off. That would explain his pants down around the ankles. Now if we could just find the partner whoever he,she, he/she is?

Posted by Donald Jackson on June 4, 2015 12:16

Editor Comment:

There are more likely theories for the poor man having his pants around his ankles, Donald.

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Correct Editor knowledge is all when someone has an insight of what the thai's realy think of falangs i have asked the question many times without a reply how many This have been arrested or charged when a falang has been assaulted or beaten.

Posted by william on June 4, 2015 12:39

Editor Comment:

I suggest you stake out a police station and keep count, william.

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After looking at feisty post, checked on internet and the immigration do have access to facial recognition software so unless he came in illegally the immigration should be able to identify him

Posted by Michael on June 4, 2015 14:53

Editor Comment:

What day did he arrive, Michael? I think that's the problem. And with no national government pushing for a quick identification, such a check may not happen in a hurry.

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The police here should have the ability to take a picture on their smartphones, upload it to their central office computor, do a facial scan and instantly pull up all the information on a person. ID, entry date and visa info.
Or does that sound like tooo much work or do the copy computor programmes here, not work like the genuine packages?
So much for a high tech country.

Posted by Annon on June 4, 2015 18:23

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Makes no difference what day he arrives just dedicate one computer to do a search can set parameters for a month just arrivals that have not departed. If no matches then next month computer does most of the work, gives a list of possibilities.
They have national database of arrivals so doesn't matter what airport or land crossing he arrived.

Posted by Michael on June 4, 2015 19:36

Editor Comment:

The problem is, Michael, that without the involvement of an embassy, no request for such a search is likely to have been suggested. Police on the beat wouldn't necessarily think of that kind of solution. There are no regular meetings with honorary consuls, so thinking does not broaden. I wonder if one of the consuls will suggest it, no matter where this guy comes from?

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Would seem to me to be just good police work.and not up to the consuls to request. The company that supplied the software Somapa IT from its description could easily supply the information the police require to identity the individual
Source public domain

Posted by Michael on June 4, 2015 22:24

Editor Comment:

There is a difference between police work and stretching the boundaries. Someone in authority - a consul or an ambassador - needs to suggest it.

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I think you will find the immigration is actually part of the Royal Thai police. .Just a matter of thinking and using the resources available, why should a consul have to suggest that.
Can you imagine the reaction in Australia if a consul told or suggested what to do to the immigration.
Source rtp website in Thai or the old faithful Wikipedia in English

Posted by Michael on June 6, 2015 08:35


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