Relatives confirm Ekkayuth's body
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Relatives confirmed that the body found Wednesday in a remote spot in Phathalung was Ekkayuth An chanbutr.
Ekkayuth’s naked body was found buried in a remote orchard in Phathalung’s Muang district at 2 pm Wednesday.
His 25yearold chauffeur Santiparb Pengduang, who admitted to having killed his employer for Bt5 million, and suspected accomplices Chavalit Wunchum, 23, and Thiwakorn Kuathong, 19, led police to the location where they had buried the body.
There was a trace on the victim’s neck showing that he had been strangled, according to police. There were no traces of assault on other parts of his body.
The body, found about half a metre below ground level, began to decompose and police said the death occurred four to five days ago. Ekkayuth’s family members identified the body as his, and the body was sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok for formal identification.
The digging of the body was carried out in the presence of several reporters and photographers, as well as hundreds of local residents.
Suwat Apaipak, a lawyer of Ekkayuth, told Nation Channel that Ekkayuth’s body had been found. The lawyer said it appeared that Ekkayuth was strangled.
Metropolitan Police chief Pol Lt Gen Khamronwit Thupkrajang said the initial inspection fond that Ekkayuth was attacked like what his chauffeur, Santiparb Pengduag, had told police.
Khamronwit said the body had yet to be officially confirmed by the forensic officials that it was Ekkayuth.
A police source said it appeared clear that Ekkayuth’s murder was a robbery case.
