Male companion sought in murder case
Police are hunting for a man who is suspected of having been involved in the abduction and murder of 25-year-old Niran Soisungnoen, whose burned remains were found buried in a wooded area in Chaiyaphum’s Muang district on Wednesday.
Police suspect that at least two people carried out the crime. The motive remained unknown as of press time.
Niran’s mother filed a missing persons report on April 8.
Chaiyaphum police deputy chief Pol Colonel Wirat Baokham, who is leading the investigation, said police had identified a person of interest, Niran’s male companion Preecha Kiewsanthia, a 26-year-old Nakhon Ratchasima native, who remained at large.
Wirat said police had found CCTV recordings that showed the two men travelling from Bangkok and checking into a resort together in Nakhon Ratchasima’s Kham Thalae Sor district, where they stayed for two hours on April 8, and another resort in Chaturas district on the night of April 8.
Niran reportedly called his mother asking her to prepare a late supper for him but he did not show up and he did not answer his phone.
Police also determined that Preecha was alone at an entertainment venue in Muang Chaiyaphum as Niran’s family was trying to contact him, Wirat said.
At least two men were suspected to have committed the murder before they took Niran’s sedan and fled, Wirat said. Police have speculated the motive could be either robbery or jealousy.
Niran’s body was partially burned and buried along with assorted documents, two sharp knives and his car’s licence plate in a eucalyptus forest behind Wat Ban Soktalap in Tambon Khok Sung.
Police believe the body was moved there because there were no signs of a struggle in the area.