THE SIX people found dead at a popular hotel in Ratchaprasong area this evening (July 16) were poisoned and not shot dead as initially mentioned by the authorities but all of them are Vietnamese with two holding American citizenship, Amarin TV said.
It was initially not clear how the six of them died but after Pol. Lt. Gen. Thiti Sangsawang, head of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, and Pol. Maj. Gen.Noppasil Poolsawat, the bureau’s deputy chief, reached the scene it was confirmed they had died from poisoning in a room on the fifth floor.
At 8.30 p.m. Pol. Maj. Gen. Teeradej Thumsutee, head of the bureau’s investigation unit, said three of those who died were men and the other three women.
Initial examination showed that they were probably poisoned with there being traces of tea and coffee they had drunk.
Police have not concluded whether it was murder over a business deal, revenge, or some strange cult but many possibilities have been raised for investigation, he added.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Thiti said there was no signs of struggle with the bodies of all six of them found in the same room from which they were due to check out today with their bags packed.
A thorough autopsy of the dead bodies is underway with forensic officers also collecting evidence, he added.
However Naewna newspaper said it is believed that the six of them died from being poisoned with cyanide and not stabbed or shot dead with five of them being in one hotel room and the sixth victim outside this room.
Reporters of this newspaper had quickly called National Police headquarters and senior police officers to confirm how they died after news broke out earlier this evening but were cut off.
Police believe that the suspect is still at large in the hotel.
The six of them were identified as follows:
– Ms. Sherine Chong, 56, American citizen, entered Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 5, 2024 with permit to stay here till August 3, 2024 and has travelled here five times;
– Mr. Hung Dang Van, 55, American citizen, entered Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 7, 2024 with permit to stay here till August 5, 2024 and has travelled here once before;
– Ms. Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan, 47, Vietnamese nationality, entered Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 4, 2024 with permit to stay here till August 2, 2024 and has travelled here 17 times;
– Mr. Hong Pham Thanh, 49, Vietnamese nationality, entered Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 12, 2024 with permit to stay till August 10, 2024 and has travelled here once before;
– Mr. Dinh Tran Phu, 37, Vietnamese nationality, entered Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 12, 2024 with permit to stay till August 10, 2024 and has travelled here 11 times;
– Ms. Thi Nguyen Phuong, 46, Vietnamese nationality, entered Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 12, 2024 with permit to stay till August 10, 2024 and has travelled here three times.
CAPTION:
The hotel where the six Vietnamese, two of them American citizens, were found dead this evening, July 16, 2024. Photo: Naewna
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