THE Crime Suppression Division police are speeding up their investigation of the drowning death of a wealthy Thai couple of Indian origin at a luxury resort on Koh Tao island last Saturday to determine whether they were possibly murdered, Thai Rath newspaper said this evening (June 7).
If this turns out to be a complex case involving murder then the National Police Chief Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk would himself visit Koh Tao to check the scene of death.
The forensic doctor who performed an autopsy on the bodies of Mr. Rakeshwar Satchathamakul, 58, and his wife Mrs. Anchu, 55, said they both died of suffocation with there being a lot of fluid in their lungs. Physical examination showed no wounds or signs of injury.
However laboratory test results are still awaited and it will be 30 days before this could be issued.
Pol. Col. Wirachan Khunchaikaew, chief of CSD Division 5, said in handling this investigation his team and the local police are pursuing several lines of investigation with all suspicions to be looked into to dispel doubts surrounding this case.
The police team is checking the deceased couple’s timeline to find out who they came to Koh Tao with, who was the last to see them and who was the first to find their bodies.
The resort and the scene of their drowning death will again be examined in detail to collect more evidence such as finding out the real depth of the swimming pool, whether surveillance cameras were really broken and in what state their bodies were found.
However, to gain greater insight lab test results are needed to ascertain whether there were any toxins or chemicals in their bodies.
Moreover people close to the deceased couple, including their son who currently resides in Thailand, will be questioned again to find out any possible conflicts including checking their insurance history to find out who the beneficiaries are.
CAPTION:
National Police Chief Pol Gen Suwat Jangyodsuk, right, and the swimming pool at the Koh Tao resort where the couple drowned. Photo: Thai Rath
