BANGKOK — Just one day after a Thai court approved an arrest warrant for a Chinese suspect who killed and concealed the body of a woman of the same nationality in Bangkok, Hong Kong authorities reported that the suspect has been arrested.
On July 18, Police Major General Nopsilp Poonsawat, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, revealed that while Thai police were coordinating with Interpol to track and arrest Mr. Ma Qingyan, 34, the prime suspect in the murder of Miss Yan Ruimin, 38, in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district in early July, Hong Kong authorities had already detained Mr. Ma.
Hong Kong police reported that they have sent Mr. Ma back to China for prosecution. Chinese authorities have been coordinating information with Thai police officers. The Foreign Affairs Division has been proceeding with coordination according to the extradition treaty.
Mr. Ma was issued an arrest warrant on charges including murder and concealing, moving, or destroying a corpse to hide the cause of death. He was the last person to be with Miss Yan before she disappeared.
Mr. Ma was seen on CCTV on July 1 holding Miss Yan’s hand as they walked along Rama IV Road. They returned to their car and left together. Miss Yan disappeared on July 2 in a residence on Sukhumvit Soi 16. Forensic officials found bloodstains on a pillowcase and bed sheet in this house. He fled Thailand on July 3, with evidence showing he traveled to Hong Kong and Macau.
Police Major General Nopsilp Poonsawat, Deputy Commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, stated that the police investigation is focusing on personal motives, including a possible love affair.
Previously, Miss Yan’s family had expressed their desire for the case to be transferred to China, where murder carries a maximum penalty of death. Chinese Embassy officials have stated they will coordinate with Chinese authorities to determine whether they will investigate the case themselves or assist in arresting and extraditing the suspect back to Thailand, in accordance with the cooperation agreement between the two countries.
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