CHIANG MAI — The murder suspect in the killing of Dr. Sammy, a prominent transgender clinic owner in Chiang Mai, has been apprehended in Turkey and will be extradited to Thailand to face charges, authorities announced today.
Police Colonel Prachya Thisala, superintendent of Chiang Mai City Police Station, confirmed that the Foreign Affairs Division received notification of the arrest from Interpol. The suspect, Bilal Chefinu, a 30-year-old Moroccan national, was arrested at a hotel in Turkey pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by the Chiang Mai Provincial Court for intentional homicide.
The victim, Thitikan Dulikhanon, known professionally as Dr. Sammy, was discovered deceased at the Dr. Sammy Clinic in the Bishop Point complex on December 6, 2024. Investigators believe the murder occurred two days earlier, on December 4.
According to the medical examination, the cause of death was strangulation with a red elastic cord, which investigators found hanging on a clothes rack in the bathroom. The victim’s body was discovered covered with a blanket and towel, with visible strangulation marks on the neck.
Investigation revealed that Chefinu, who was the victim’s former partner before their separation a year ago, had entered the clinic with Dr. Sammy on December 4. Police believe he had attempted to reconcile with the victim.
Surveillance footage captured Chefinu departing alone in Dr. Sammy’s black Toyota Camry around 2:00 a.m. on December 5. He was later observed parking the vehicle near the city moat before taking a tuk-tuk to Chiang Mai International Airport, where he boarded a 6:00 a.m. flight to Hong Kong.
Following the incident, police gathered evidence and secured an arrest warrant, distributing red notices to various countries. After nearly two months of investigation, Turkish authorities successfully apprehended the suspect.
The case continues to develop as authorities work on extradition procedures to bring Chefinu back to Thailand to face charges.
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Previous report:
Thai Police Track Moroccan Suspect to Hong Kong After Clinic Owner’s Murder
