PHUKET: The body of a man found hanged near a quiet beach on Phuket has been identified as Mark Robson and will be repatriated at his family's request, South African media reported today.
Tourist Police on Phuket confirmed tonight that the body had been identified to the satisfaction of police and the family.
Robson, 27, was last believed to be heading to Nai Yang beach and cash was withdrawn at an ATM in his name on January 23.
A body was found hanged beside a creek near Phuket's Freedom beach, about 40 kilometres south of Nai Yang, two days later.
Mr Robson's belongings have since been recovered at a bungalow where the owner says that he lived in seclusion for several days.
South Africa's news24.com site is now reporting that the body, which was only linked to Mark Robson's disappearance on February 10 or February11 by a Phuket journalist who compared two photographs, is to be released to his parents.
Robson was due to start a teaching job in Taipei on February 6, but his parents were alerted when he did not board the plane.
The South African news site said that Department of International Relations spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the body had been positively identified as Robson.
It is believed suggestions of foul play are no longer being considered.
''Mr Monyela was not able to comment on issues such as a post-mortem, toxicology tests and the investigation as he had not been given permission by the family to talk about these matters,'' the news site reported.
Mark Robson's father Keith said: ''We will make funeral arrangements once his body has arrived in the country.''
Tourist Police on Phuket confirmed tonight that the body had been identified to the satisfaction of police and the family.
Robson, 27, was last believed to be heading to Nai Yang beach and cash was withdrawn at an ATM in his name on January 23.
A body was found hanged beside a creek near Phuket's Freedom beach, about 40 kilometres south of Nai Yang, two days later.
Mr Robson's belongings have since been recovered at a bungalow where the owner says that he lived in seclusion for several days.
South Africa's news24.com site is now reporting that the body, which was only linked to Mark Robson's disappearance on February 10 or February11 by a Phuket journalist who compared two photographs, is to be released to his parents.
Robson was due to start a teaching job in Taipei on February 6, but his parents were alerted when he did not board the plane.
The South African news site said that Department of International Relations spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the body had been positively identified as Robson.
It is believed suggestions of foul play are no longer being considered.
''Mr Monyela was not able to comment on issues such as a post-mortem, toxicology tests and the investigation as he had not been given permission by the family to talk about these matters,'' the news site reported.
Mark Robson's father Keith said: ''We will make funeral arrangements once his body has arrived in the country.''
What a sad story, why so many such cases are taking place in Phuket ?
Posted by Naz on February 18, 2012 02:40
Editor Comment:
There are not ''so many cases'' taking place on Phuket. In many parts of the world, suicides are so commonplace they are not covered by the media. The media on Phuket reports on virtually all expat deaths because, unlike many countries, Thailand has no coronial system to make independent judgements on the causes. But being a holiday island doesn't exclude people from suffering depression.