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Unidentified Man Detained in Khao Yai for Questioning

Authorities detain unidentified man found in Khao Yai National Park without permission, Dec 25, 2025.

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — Authorities in Thailand’s Khao Yai National Park have detained a man of unknown nationality after he was found inside the protected area without identification or permission, police said on Christmas Day.

At about 8.30 a.m. on December 25, police at Mu Si station in Pak Chong district were notified by Khao Yai National Park officials that a man who could not communicate in Thai and carried no identification documents had been taken into custody. The man was found near the Noi Waterfall area, between the park checkpoint at the San Chao Pho Khao Yai shrine and the kilometre 30 viewpoint.

Park officials said the man had entered the national park without authorisation and was initially held at the checkpoint before police, military personnel and security officials carried out further checks. Officers found no documents confirming his identity or nationality.

He was later taken to Mu Si police station for questioning and background checks. Police said security measures had been tightened for foreign nationals due to the current international situation, and unfamiliar individuals were being treated with particular caution.

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Authorities inspect unidentified man found in Khao Yai National Park without permission, Dec 25, 2025.

Chaiya Huaihongthong, head of Khao Yai National Park, said the same man had been seen on the evening of December 24th attempting to enter the park through the San Chao Pho Khao Yai checkpoint. Officials prevented him from entering, and he walked back along Thanarat Road towards the Kut Khla area.

However, at about 7 a.m., the man was spotted entering the park through a forested area near Noi Waterfall at kilometre 27, bypassing the official checkpoint. He was then detained as a suspicious individual, park officials said.

Chaiya also dismissed reports by some social media pages and news outlets claiming that documents had been found on the suspect. He said officials had thoroughly searched the man from the outset and confirmed that no identification or documents were found.

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Is Thailand “War-Drunk”? Demolishing a Giant Cambodian Hindu Statue

A screenshot from a video posted on the “Army Military Force” page shows Thai Army combat engineers dismantling a Hindu deity statue in the Chong An Ma area of Ubon Ratchathani province on Dec. 23, 2025.

​Could Thailand be so “war-drunk” at the moment to the point where she is losing her self-awareness?
I’m afraid so.

​Thailand is so “war-drunk” at present that it has provoked frustration from a third-party country not involved in the Thailand–Cambodia conflict.

​Supporters of the war are even defending the shameful actions of crudely dismantling a giant Hindu deity statue in an area Thailand claims Cambodia encroached upon. Last night, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson publicly condemned the act, calling it a “disrespectful” act “that hurts the sentiments of followers around the world.”
​This comment has been reported in the Indian media and is likely to affect Indians’ perception of Thailand.

Here is the full statement from the Indian External Affairs Ministry posted on its Facebook page late last night.

“In response to media queries regarding the demolition of Hindu deity statue, the Official Spokesperson, Shri Randhir Jaiswal said:

​”We have seen reports on the demolition of a statue of a Hindu religious deity, built in recent times, and located in an area affected by the ongoing Thailand-Cambodia border dispute.

​Hindu and Buddhist deities are deeply revered and worshipped by people across the region, as part of our shared civilizational heritage.

“​Notwithstanding territorial claims, such disrespectful acts hurt the sentiments of followers around the world and should not take place.

​”We once again urge the two sides to return to dialogue and diplomacy, to resume peace and avoid any further loss of lives and damage to property and heritage.”
​24 December 2025
—-

Nevertheless, the war-drunk people in Thailand no longer seem to care how the world views our country—a sign of the recklessness that war fever has produced.

​P.S. Even many Thai media outlets are ‘celebrating the news’, using words like “jubilation” and similar expressions. They seem unaware that foreigners are dismayed. Many Thai media appear “war-drunk” themselves, wearing the #TeamThailand hat so tightly that they forget their role as both mirror and lantern for public understanding.

​P.S. 2 This may affect the number of Indian tourists visiting Thailand. I strongly urge the Thai government to issue a formal apology and express regret promptly before the situation escalates in Indian media and Indian social media platforms.

​In reality, after securing a disputed territory, there was no need to destroy the giant deity statue. Thailand could have waited for hostilities to subside, then invited Brahmins to respectfully handle the site and gradually relocate the statue, either keeping it or returning it to Cambodia later.

​But the Thai military, intoxicated by war fever and eager to show their power, acted recklessly, oblivious to how the world—especially Hindus and the Indian government—would perceive it.

​The Thai Foreign Ministry did nothing to prevent this regrettable act. Many Thai media and citizens, also caught up in war fever, cheered on these actions.

​P.S.2 Even AI data recognises that Indian tourists in Thailand are important and rapidly increasing. Thailand’s war-driven recklessness may end up harming its own economic interests.

​According to AI analysis:

In 2025, the number of Indian tourists visiting Thailand rose significantly, targeting 2.3–2.5 million. The figure had already surpassed 1 million by mid-year, ranking India as the third-largest source of foreign tourists to Thailand over the first ten months. This growth is driven by India’s fast-growing economy, visa facilitation (excluding 60-day visas), and Thailand’s diverse tourist offerings. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has focused on promoting this market, expecting high numbers, especially during the second half of the year and the year-end high season.

P.S. 3 The Thai military today explained the reason for destroying the Hindu statue in the border area, expressing regret if it caused any discomfort. They emphasized that the action was not related to religion or beliefs.

Note: Just before the article was published, PM Anutin Charnvirakul reacted to the Indian government’s remarks.

He said that when weighed against the lives of soldiers—those who have lost limbs or suffered severe injuries—the matter should be put into perspective.

“A statue that was destroyed, when compared with the legs and limbs our soldiers have lost, and then equated with disrespect or desecration—this is not something I would compare,” Anutin said.

This is a fallacious argument by Anutin who seems intoxicated by war, because there was absolutely no necessity for Thai soldiers to destroy the Hindu giant deity statue that the Khmer built like that, to the point that the Indian government came out to criticize it as a display of disrespect toward religion.

It was completely unnecessary. Just wait until the fighting is over, then invite Brahmins to conduct a ceremony to move it into storage, or return it to Cambodia, and that would be the end of it. It has nothing to do with the loss of Thai soldiers’ arms or legs at all.

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Elderly Foreign Man Dies After Fall at Home in Chiang Mai

Elderly Foreign Man Dies After Fall at Home in Chiang Mai.

CHIANG MAI – An elderly foreign man has died after apparently slipping while getting dressed and striking his head on a bed at his home, local authorities said.

The incident was reported at about 4.50 p.m. on December 24 in Ban Pang Hai village, Nong Bua subdistrict, Chai Prakan district, Chiang Mai. Officials from the local disaster prevention and mitigation centre responded along with police investigators and an ambulance from Chai Prakan Hospital.

At the scene, authorities found the body of a 75-year-old man lying beside a bed inside the house. He had suffered a head wound, with significant bleeding visible, officials said.

Preliminary information indicated that the man had lived in the area for nearly 20 years with his Thai wife, who had two children from a previous relationship. His wife died several years ago, and the two children have since moved away, leaving him living alone.

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Officers arrived at the house with blood seeping through doorway.

Investigators believe the man slipped while putting on his trousers in the bedroom, lost his balance and fell, hitting his head against the bed. The injury caused heavy bleeding, and he was unable to call for help before dying, police said.

Concern was raised when his adopted child attempted to contact him by phone but received no answer. Fearing something was wrong, they went to the house and noticed blood seeping from the doorway before alerting authorities.

The body was taken to Chai Prakan Hospital for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Police said the case appeared to be an accident, pending further investigation.

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Drunken Christmas Brawl Leaves Foreigner Injured in Pattaya

Drunken Christmas Brawl Leaves Foreigner Injured in Pattaya

PATTAYA — A foreign tourist was injured in a drunken brawl early on Christmas Day after a confrontation outside a beer bar in Pattaya, police said.

The incident occurred at about 2 a.m. on December 25 outside Apple Bar 2 in the Rompho Market area of Jomtien, in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi. Pattaya City Police received a report of a brawl with injuries and responded along with rescue workers from the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation.

At the scene, a popular beer bar area, large numbers of Thai and foreign tourists gathered to watch. The injured man was identified as Jonathan, 52, a foreigner whose nationality was not immediately confirmed. He was intoxicated and had suffered an injury to his right ankle, police said.

Rescue workers provided first aid before taking him to hospital. During treatment, the man appeared cheerful despite his injuries, moving and dancing to music playing nearby, rescue workers said.

pattaya hurt
Rescuers provide first aid for an injured tourist after a confrontation outside a beer bar in Pattaya on Dec.25, 2025.

A bar employee, who declined to be named, told police that Jonathan and a group of foreign tourists had been drinking and celebrating Christmas inside the bar when a heated argument broke out with another man. The dispute escalated, and Jonathan allegedly challenged the other party to a one-on-one fistfight outside the bar.

According to witnesses, Jonathan was unable to continue fighting and a scuffle ensued, prompting tourists and bar staff to intervene. The other man took advantage of the confusion to flee the area.

Investigators from Pattaya City Police later inspected the scene and said they were reviewing closed-circuit television footage from the bar and nearby locations to gather evidence. Police said they would seek to identify and question the suspect and proceed with legal action.

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Spanish Family Escapes as Rental Car Explodes in Mae Hong Son

A Spanish family's rental hybrid stands completely charred after a sudden fire on a mountain road in Mae Hong Son province on Dec. 24, 2025.

MAE HONG SON — A Spanish family of four narrowly escaped a life-threatening ordeal Tuesday afternoon when their rental vehicle burst into flames on a winding mountain road in northern Thailand.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:45 p.m. on Highway 1095, the primary route connecting the popular tourist destinations of Mae Hong Son and Pai. According to Mae Hong Son City Police, the family was traveling through the Huai Pha sub-district, about 30 kilometers from the city center, when the vehicle—a Toyota Corolla Cross hybrid—began to malfunction.

The driver, identified as the father of the family, told investigators he noticed thick smoke billowing from the engine compartment. He managed to pull the car over to the shoulder of the road and immediately evacuated his wife and two children.

 

Moments after the family exited the vehicle, a loud explosion was heard. The fire rapidly engulfed the entire car, causing it to slide off the road and down an embankment.

“The occupants were in a state of shock but are physically unharmed,” said Pol. Lt. Natthnaphat Wanitcharoenkan, the lead investigator on the case. “However, all of their belongings, including luggage and travel documents, were destroyed in the fire.”

Firefighting units from the Na Pu Pom and Huai Pha Subdistrict Administrative Organizations responded to the scene, but the vehicle was already a total loss by the time the blaze was extinguished.

spanish hybrid
First responders work to extinguish a burning hybrid vehicle in Mae Hong Son on Christmas Eve. The Spanish family traveling inside escaped just moments before the car exploded.

The SUV had been rented from a service in Chiang Mai for a road trip through the region’s notoriously steep and curvy terrain. While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the incident comes amid recent global recalls for certain Toyota hybrid models involving potential fire risks related to inverter components.

Local authorities are assisting the Spanish embassy in coordinating emergency documentation for the family.

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Bangkok, Chulalongkorn Deploy 3-Minute Earthquake Warning System

Chulalongkorn University researcher explains how the RUGON sensor system can provide up to three minutes of advance warning before tremors reach Bangkok, on Dec 24, 2025.

BANGKOK — BMA officials received 10 earthquake early warning sensors Tuesday as part of a partnership with Chulalongkorn University to better prepare the Thai capital for seismic disasters.

Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt accepted the “RUGON” sensors from Anatee Ruangrassamee, director of the Center of Excellence in Earthquake Engineering and Vibration at Chulalongkorn’s Faculty of Engineering, during a meeting at Bangkok City Hall.

The sensors can provide up to three minutes of advance warning before tremors reach Bangkok, officials said. That window could extend to four or five minutes when linked with monitoring networks in Myanmar, giving authorities time to halt elevators, construction cranes and surgeries before shaking begins.

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Chart showing the RUGON sensor system that provides up to three minutes of earthquake warning for Bangkok.

“This system will help Bangkok manage disasters more efficiently, especially by accessing data through API to connect with warning systems, which will reduce panic and increase public safety,” Chadchart said.

The city plans to install the 10 sensors initially in Bangkok Metropolitan Administration schools, where they will serve as both protective equipment and educational tools for students about earthquake safety.

The sensors are part of a “Sense then Share” system that provides real-time ground motion data through a Live ShakeMap accessible via website, with historical data available for up to 24 hours. The compact devices weigh about 100 grams, operate on low power using NB-IoT communication, and have a nine-year lifespan.

bma quake3
Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt attends RUGON earthquake warning system briefing, Dec 24, 2025.

Bangkok has already installed earthquake sensors at Thanee Noparat Building, Bangkok General Hospital and Vajira Hospital, with plans to complete installations at all city hospitals by fiscal year 2026.

The RUGON network currently has more than 50 monitoring points nationwide and is expanding toward 100 locations.

The initiative follows a major earthquake in Myanmar on March 28, 2025, whose tremors reached Bangkok and caused the collapse of the under-construction Office of the Auditor General building. The disaster killed 95 people, mostly construction workers, at the 2.136 billion baht ($69 million) project and prompted authorities to launch prosecutions and conduct citywide building inspections.

RUGON was developed by Chulalongkorn University’s spin-off company RUGON Co., Ltd.

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Rescuers work at the site of an under-construction high-rise building that collapsed after an earthquake in Bangkok, Thailand, Monday, March, 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

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Consumer Caution Limits New Year Travel and Spending in Thailand

Bangkok residents come out to shop for Christmas decorations at roadside stores in Soi Phahonyothin 18/1 on Dec. 23, 2025. (KHAOSOD Photo/Yokin Charoenying)

BANGKOK — More than 80% of Thais remain undecided or have no plans to travel during the New Year holiday period, reflecting continued caution amid economic uncertainty, according to a survey released by a Thai business research center.

Thanavath Phonvichai, president of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and chairman of its Center for Economic and Business Forecasting, said the survey showed subdued sentiment ahead of the New Year 2026 period.

The survey, conducted from Dec. 16 to 21 among 1,300 respondents nationwide, found that 58.8% do not plan to travel outside their local areas, while 20.5% remain undecided. Only 20.7% said they plan to travel.

Among those planning trips between Dec. 30, 2025, and Jan. 4, 2026, most said they would return to their home provinces. Others said they would travel for leisure or combine travel with family visits. Trips are increasingly short-distance, mainly within central Thailand, followed by the North, Northeast, Bangkok and surrounding areas, and the South.

More than half of respondents said they plan to visit mountainous destinations, while 61% said they would travel with family members.

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Visitors flock to Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest peak, to enjoy cold weather on Dec. 19, 2025.

Spending patterns showed a shift toward social activities and entertainment. Overall, 73.9% of respondents said their spending would go toward socializing and parties, followed by religious merit-making and purchases of alcohol and wine. Among younger respondents, more than 70% said they planned to spend money on themselves.

Thanavath said the return of alcohol and entertainment to the top spending categories likely reflects rising stress levels and a desire to socialize.

Gift baskets were the most popular New Year gifts, followed by cash or gift cards and dietary supplements. More than 70% of respondents said they expect to spend about the same amount as last year, citing a weak economic outlook, higher prices and the need to save money.

The survey found that 58.4% expect the New Year atmosphere to be about as lively as last year, while those anticipating a very lively period fell to 12.9%, down from 26% previously. About 28% expect a more subdued holiday season.

christmas centralworld
The Giant Christmas Tree 2025” at CentralWorld in Bangkok comes this year in an irresistibly cute Disneyland theme. (KHAOSOD Photo/Yokin Charoenying)

Total New Year spending in 2026 is estimated at 111.6 billion baht ($3.5billion), up 2.1% from a year earlier — the slowest growth rate in four years but the highest spending level since 2019, the center said.

Thanavath said social activities are expected to account for 16.2 billion baht ($522 million) in spending, exceeding religious merit-making at 10.5 billion baht ($338 million). Overseas travel is expected to focus on nearby countries to reduce costs.

He said government measures such as the Khon La Krueng Plus co-payment scheme have helped support year-end spending, but caution remains high and concerns about economic prospects persist. Most respondents expect economic growth in 2025–2026 to be limited to 1.5% to 2%.

Thanavath said the first quarter of 2026 will be critical in determining whether Thailand’s economy can grow above 2%. He cited election-related spending of 40–60 billion baht ($1.3-1.9 billion) and easing global risks as potential support factors.

He added that businesses view an exchange rate of 34–35 baht per U.S. dollar as optimal for exports, warning against excessive volatility. Politically, he said confidence must be restored through the swift formation of a new government and prompt implementation of stimulus measures.

Thanavath also said competition among political parties over cash-handout policies is expected to intensify, with the private sector calling for economic stimulus, workforce upskilling and measures to curb currency risks and improve governance credibility.

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The Return of Sudthisak Rinthalak and the Bridge Between Our Peoples

Workers carry a coffin containing the body of Sudthisak Rinthalak, a Thai laborer who was taken hostage by Hamas as it arrives at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Samut Prakarn, Thailand, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Surakit Kaewmorakot)

Op-Ed by H.E. Alona Fisher-Kamm, the Ambassador of Israel

 

The return on December 10th of the remains of Sudthisak Rinthalak, the last Thai national abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, closes a painful circle; but it does not close the wound. His return is not only a moment of relief but a moment of remembrance. It forces us to confront, once again, the human cost of the massacre carried out by Hamas on that dark day.

Forty-seven Thai nationals were murdered during the October 7th attack and in its immediate aftermath. Twenty-eight were abducted into Gaza and later released. Others were injured, physically and emotionally, in an act of brutality that spared no distinction of nationality, religion, or belief.

All the Thai victims, like tens of thousands of other Thai workers, came to Israel to support their families and secure their future. The Government of Israel has assumed full responsibility for the future of all Thai victims’ families. This is not only a practical duty; it is a deeply moral one.

October 7th was not a battlefield clash. It was a massacre. Hamas terrorists crossed into Israel with the explicit intention of murdering civilians. They burned homes, slaughtered families, murdered elderly people and children, raped women, and abducted innocent men and women. Thai agricultural workers, people who had come to Israel to work honestly and support their families, were targeted simply because they were there. This is the real face of Evil, the essence of ideology of hate that has no political goal or logical sense. Just a vision of destruction and terror. Pure terror.

The war that followed did not begin in a vacuum. It began because Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel’s civilian population. Any responsible government would have acted to defend its citizens after such an assault. Israel entered this war with two clear and legitimate objectives: to ensure that Hamas no longer poses a military and terrorist threat to Israel, and to bring home all hostages, Israeli and foreign nationals alike.

Most of the 258 hostages have returned. One Israeli hostage, Ran Gvili, still remains in captivity. As long as even one innocent person is held underground, Israel’s mission is not complete. We hope that his return will allow the implementation of the next phase of the Gaza arrangements and create a reality in which Hamas is no longer able to endanger Israel, its neighbors, or its own population.

Israel does not seek war. Israel seeks peace, but peace that is real, durable, and secure. Peace that allows families displaced from their homes to return safely. Peace that does not leave terrorists in control, rearming and preparing the next massacre. History has taught Israelis, painfully, that peace without security is an illusion.

The return of Sudthisak’s remains reminds us that terrorism knows no borders. It reminds us that the victims of October 7th were not only Israelis. They were Thai workers, foreign students, tourists and families from many nations. Remembering them is not a political act, it is a moral one.

Since October 7th we have seen a growing interest of Thai nationals to work in Israel. Today, over 40,000 Thai nationals live and work in Israel. They can be seen everywhere. They have become an integral part of our society, part of our landscape, part of us. And this is how we honor them, both in life and in death.

At the same time, over 400,000 Israelis travel to Thailand every year, Israelis have long felt at home in Thailand, traveling, studying, and building deep personal connections with Thai society. These two communities are not marginal; they are living symbols of trust, cooperation and mutual respect. Together, these two communities form a strong bridge of understanding and solidarity between our cultures, separated by an 11-hour flight, yet deeply close at heart.

Israel and Thailand share a long friendship built on people-to-people ties. In honoring the memory of Thai victims, we reaffirm that bond. We stand together against terror and with a shared understanding that bridges between peoples should not be built uniquely on tragic experience but through love, mutual respect and shared interests and values.

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Run No More: “Kan Vellfire” Gunman Caught on Koh Chang

Kan Vellfire is being taken to Prachachuen Police Station for questioning before further legal proceedings

TRAT – Police have arrested the suspect known as “Kan Vellfire,” accused of shooting the driver of a sedan on the Si Rat Expressway, after tracking him down at a homestay on Koh Chang in Trat province.

On Dec. 24, officers from the Metropolitan Police Investigation Division detained the suspect, identified as Mr. Songkran Phanphu, 37, also known as Kan Vellfire. He is accused of carrying out the shooting on Dec. 23 and then fleeing the scene.

Investigators said that after the incident, the suspect abandoned his vehicle in Nakhon Pathom province and took a taxi, initially saying he was traveling to Bueng Kan province before changing his destination to Pattaya, Chon Buri province.

Police said the suspect later received assistance to evade arrest. Investigators then learned that he had traveled from Koh Chang in Trat province earlier on Dec. 24.

Officers crossed to Koh Chang after receiving information that the suspect was hiding there and preparing to flee by boat toward the border. At about 6 p.m., police arrested Mr. Songkran at a homestay on the island.

He is being taken to Prachachuen Police Station for questioning before further legal proceedings.

Police said a background check showed that Mr. Songkran had previously been the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Chon Buri Provincial Court on July 12, 2024, on charges including attempted murder, illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, carrying a firearm in public, firing a weapon and causing property damage.

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Police Arrest Thai Wife and Employees Over Killing German Husband

Police Arrest Wife and Employees Over Killing German Husband
Thai police officers from Provincial Police Region 7 explain a case chart during a news conference on Dec. 24, 2025, announcing the arrest of a 45-year-old Thai woman and a 43-year-old male employee accused of killing a 65-year-old German national and concealing his body inside a house in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Thailand.

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN — Police in Thailand have arrested a Thai woman and two others in connection with the killing of her German husband at their home, authorities said Wednesday.

The body of Marks Soren, a 65-year-old German national, was discovered inside a house in Huai Sai subdistrict on December 19. Police initially treated the death as suspicious but later determined it was a staged killing allegedly ordered by the victim’s wife with the help of a trusted employee.

Investigators said the killing took place on the evening of November 23. The victim’s wife, Nittaya, 45, allegedly conspired with Thongbai, 43, an employee, to attack Soren inside the house. His body was left there for nearly a month.

On December 19, Nittaya reported a foul odor to Khlong Wan police, prompting officers to inspect the property. She initially claimed her husband had died from an underlying illness, police said.

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Police from Provincial Police Region 7 question a 45-year-old Thai woman and a 43-year-old male employee accused of killing a 65-year-old German national in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Thailand, on Dec. 22, 2025.

An autopsy conducted the following day at the Police General Hospital’s forensic institute found that Soren died from repeated blows with a blunt object, resulting in multiple fractures to his skull and arms. The findings contradicted Nittaya’s statement and led investigators to broaden the inquiry.

Police said Nittaya later confessed and claimed she acted out of resentment, alleging she had been repeatedly assaulted by her husband. Investigators also believe Naowarat, 50, Thongbai’s wife, had prior knowledge of the crime.

The arrests were made on December 22 by investigators from Provincial Police Region 7 and Khlong Wan police. Nittaya and Thongbai were charged with premeditated murder, while Naowarat was charged with complicity in murder, police said.

All three suspects were transferred to Khlong Wan police station for further legal proceedings.

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