Body retrieved from Chao Phraya River identified as missing Japanese tourist
A BODY recovered from the Chao Phraya River late last year has been confirmed as a 22-year-old Japanese tourist who had cut all contact with his parents and girlfriend during his trip to Thailand.
The parents of Sonam Tsuboi positively identified him at Siriraj Hospital yesterday, with his girlfriend also present.
They are now arranging his cremation and the return of his remains to Japan.
Sonam’s family and girlfriend do not suspect foul play because a close friend of the deceased said he had developed depression and wanted to spend time alone before his disappearance.
He also told his girlfriend late last |year that he was cancelling a trip they |had planned. The couple intended to |travel to north Thailand on January 7.
Sonam’s girlfriend and family last heard from him on December 27. Concerned, they flew from Japan to Thailand to search for him.
On Sunday, Thai police told them about an unidentified body found floating in the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok on December 30. The body was sent to Siriraj Hospital for an autopsy. There were no signs of injuries but there were two tattoos that matched the description of those on the missing man.
“There are tattoos on the left ankle and the left rib,” Dr Visutr Fongsiripaibul, the forensic-medicine head of the Siriraj Hospital, said.
Bang Kho Laem Police Station superintendent Pol Colonel Anek Paisri said police were checking CCTV footage to determine how Sonam got into the river.
