CHIANG MAI — Thai police are working with Hong Kong authorities to locate a suspect in the murder of Dr. Sammy, a prominent transgender clinic owner in Chiang Mai. The victim, Thitikan Dulikhanon, known professionally as Dr. Sammy, was found dead at the Dr. Sammy Clinic in the Bishop Point complex on December 6, 2024, though investigators believe the murder occurred on December 4.
Police Colonel Prachya Thisa, superintendent of Chiang Mai City Police Station, announced that authorities have identified the prime suspect as Bilal Chefinu, a 30-year-old Moroccan national who was reportedly the victim’s former partner. The court has issued an arrest warrant following extensive review of surveillance footage and other evidence.
According to investigators, security cameras captured Dr. Sammy arriving at the clinic with Chefinu around 8:00 p.m. on December 4. The pair, who had reportedly separated a year earlier, entered the building together. Police believe Chefinu had returned to attempt reconciliation with Dr. Sammy.
Surveillance footage shows Chefinu leaving alone in Dr. Sammy’s black Toyota Camry around 2:00 a.m. on December 5. He was later seen parking the car near the city moat and taking a tuk-tuk to Chiang Mai International Airport, where he boarded a flight to Hong Kong at 6:00 a.m. the same day.
When police discovered Dr. Sammy’s body on the clinic’s third floor, the victim had been dead for approximately three days. The cause of death was determined to be strangulation with a red elastic cord, which was found hanging on a clothes rack in the bathroom. The body was found covered with a blanket and towel, with clear signs of strangulation visible on the neck.
Police recovered two mobile phones belonging to the victim from the abandoned vehicle. Investigators have completed their analysis of the surveillance footage tracking the suspect’s escape route and are now working with Hong Kong Interpol to locate and apprehend Chefinu. Authorities expect to make an arrest in the near future.
The case has drawn significant attention in Chiang Mai, where Dr. Sammy’s clinic was well-known. Police believe the motive for the murder was related to a personal dispute between the victim and the suspect.
__________
