THE twilight world of bar hostesses and sex tourists has always been a place for dreamers on Phuket. The women, usually from poor families, sometimes long for an expat to take care of them in a more conventional fashion, to settle down, to raise a family.
The sexpats, often hard men or bruised men who have found themselves unable or unwilling to sustain a relationship elsewhere, come filled with lust. Yet sometimes, they find love.
Often, bar girls on Phuket will have a chance over a drink or two in a bar to assess a customer, to hazard a guess as to whether this could be the prince of their dreams, or just another paying customer, for one night only.
Murdered bar hostess Wanpen Pianchai, 34, probably did not think the man who picked her up over a breakfast beer at Sweethearts Bar in Kata-Karon last month was the man of her dreams. She had been back working at a bar for just three months, but in her 20s, she had been engaged in the same trade for several years.
For a man to hunt for a lady boy katoey or woman at 7am on Phuket is unusual, but then, lust has never been confined to the hours of darkness. Khun Wanpen could not have known what was to come.
Six days after she was last seen leaving Sweethearts Bar with the man, Khun Wanpen's naked and stabbed body was found in an abandoned travel bag by a roadside in central Phuket.
The owner of Sweethearts Bar, Khun Pom, told Phuketwan today: ''We never thought this could possibly happen. If we had the slightest hint of what was to take place, we would not have allowed Khun Wanpen to go with this man.''
Police continue to drop by at the bar, asking familiar questions, seeking a sudden burst of memory that may provide a clue to the identity of the blue-eyed, bearded stranger who came for a beer at 7am on June 18.
''We did not take too much notice, because he was just an early-morning customer. Nobody has ever hurt any of our girls. Murder was unimaginable,'' Khun Pom said.
Two days ago, she called for help from above. Belief in the spirit gods runs strong in Thailand, and nowhere does it run with greater strength than on Phuket, where the mah song warriors are summoned from the sea each year for October's Vegetarian Festival.
Khun Pom prayed and chanted in the bar, lighting incense in front of Sweethearts' small shrine. ''I called on the spirit of Khun Wanpen to help us to keep the business running, so we can send money back to her children,'' she said.
A voice told Khun Pom what she wanted to hear most of all: that the blue-eyed man will give himself up, soon. Khun Wanpen's spirit is bound to be unsettled until he does.
Police will be hoping that the information provided by the spirit proves correct.
So far, fresh clues to the stranger's identity have eluded their investigation - and many of those among the island's bar hostesses fear the killer could strike again. Until he surrenders or is captured, a general air of nervousness will pervade the tourist sex trade.
Furtive telephone calls will be made by friends and family just to ask: Is everything ok? Are you safe?
Yet there is no way of knowing for sure whether the man has fled the island or is still here.
While there are plenty of loners on Phuket, it would be unusual for a Westerner to have no other contacts. Yet nobody has come forward with a single suggestion as to who this bearded, blue-eyed prime murder suspect might be.
Word of the unusual case is spreading, with reports appearing in the Pattaya Daily News and Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Police continue their inquiries and have sent Khun Wanpen's body to Surat Thani for further forensic tests. They hope some more clues may yet be forthcoming . . .
Until the case is resolved, the police, and Khun Wanpen's spirit, will not be able to rest.
Khun Wanpen's mother has been left in difficult circumstances in the province of Petchabun, where she now has to raise two young grandchildren. People who wish to help can send money direct to her bank account: Krung Thai Bank account no: 6290233726 in the name of Sa Ard Maliwan.
Phuket Bar Killing: 'Sweethearts' Expat WantedThe sexpats, often hard men or bruised men who have found themselves unable or unwilling to sustain a relationship elsewhere, come filled with lust. Yet sometimes, they find love.
Often, bar girls on Phuket will have a chance over a drink or two in a bar to assess a customer, to hazard a guess as to whether this could be the prince of their dreams, or just another paying customer, for one night only.
Murdered bar hostess Wanpen Pianchai, 34, probably did not think the man who picked her up over a breakfast beer at Sweethearts Bar in Kata-Karon last month was the man of her dreams. She had been back working at a bar for just three months, but in her 20s, she had been engaged in the same trade for several years.
For a man to hunt for a lady boy katoey or woman at 7am on Phuket is unusual, but then, lust has never been confined to the hours of darkness. Khun Wanpen could not have known what was to come.
Six days after she was last seen leaving Sweethearts Bar with the man, Khun Wanpen's naked and stabbed body was found in an abandoned travel bag by a roadside in central Phuket.
The owner of Sweethearts Bar, Khun Pom, told Phuketwan today: ''We never thought this could possibly happen. If we had the slightest hint of what was to take place, we would not have allowed Khun Wanpen to go with this man.''
Police continue to drop by at the bar, asking familiar questions, seeking a sudden burst of memory that may provide a clue to the identity of the blue-eyed, bearded stranger who came for a beer at 7am on June 18.
''We did not take too much notice, because he was just an early-morning customer. Nobody has ever hurt any of our girls. Murder was unimaginable,'' Khun Pom said.
Two days ago, she called for help from above. Belief in the spirit gods runs strong in Thailand, and nowhere does it run with greater strength than on Phuket, where the mah song warriors are summoned from the sea each year for October's Vegetarian Festival.
Khun Pom prayed and chanted in the bar, lighting incense in front of Sweethearts' small shrine. ''I called on the spirit of Khun Wanpen to help us to keep the business running, so we can send money back to her children,'' she said.
A voice told Khun Pom what she wanted to hear most of all: that the blue-eyed man will give himself up, soon. Khun Wanpen's spirit is bound to be unsettled until he does.
Police will be hoping that the information provided by the spirit proves correct.
So far, fresh clues to the stranger's identity have eluded their investigation - and many of those among the island's bar hostesses fear the killer could strike again. Until he surrenders or is captured, a general air of nervousness will pervade the tourist sex trade.
Furtive telephone calls will be made by friends and family just to ask: Is everything ok? Are you safe?
Yet there is no way of knowing for sure whether the man has fled the island or is still here.
While there are plenty of loners on Phuket, it would be unusual for a Westerner to have no other contacts. Yet nobody has come forward with a single suggestion as to who this bearded, blue-eyed prime murder suspect might be.
Word of the unusual case is spreading, with reports appearing in the Pattaya Daily News and Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper.
Police continue their inquiries and have sent Khun Wanpen's body to Surat Thani for further forensic tests. They hope some more clues may yet be forthcoming . . .
Until the case is resolved, the police, and Khun Wanpen's spirit, will not be able to rest.
Khun Wanpen's mother has been left in difficult circumstances in the province of Petchabun, where she now has to raise two young grandchildren. People who wish to help can send money direct to her bank account: Krung Thai Bank account no: 6290233726 in the name of Sa Ard Maliwan.
EXCLUSIVE Interview Police have produced a fresh image of the expat wanted over the vicious murder of a Kata Karon bar hostess, whose naked body was bundled into a travel bag.
Phuket Bar Killing: 'Sweethearts' Expat Wanted
Phuket Terror: Bar Girls Fear the 'Sweethearts' Killer
Breaking News Police are hoping a 50,000 baht reward will bring a breakthrough in the murder of a Sweethearts Bar hostess. Bar girls around the island fear the killer may strike again.
Phuket Terror: Bar Girls Fear the 'Sweethearts' Killer
Phuket Expat Sought as 'Naked Body' Suspect
Breaking News Police have released this drawing of a bearded expat man they want to question about the brutal murder of a bar hostess whose naked body was left in a bag by a roadside.
Phuket Expat Sought as 'Naked Body' Suspect
Phuket Horror: Naked Woman's Body by Roadside
Breaking News Phuket police are probing the discovery of a naked woman's body in central Phuket. The woman was folded into a bag and dumped beside a road.
Phuket Horror: Naked Woman's Body by Roadside
Thank you PW for the direct bank account details.
I have just made a small contribution and hope others will, too.
I hope the family knows that there are many people thinking about her and feeling compassion for the family.
Posted by Vfaye on July 6, 2010 17:43