A perpetrator brutally murdered a well-known LGBTQ man in a forest beside a famous factory in Tak Province. The victim's gold jewelry, including his necklace and ring, along with his mobile phone, were missing. Close associates revealed that before leaving home, he received a mysterious phone call.
At about 16:00 on 20 Jan 2026, officers from Mae Sot Police Station received a report from the radio center about a body of an LGBTQ man found in a grassy forest beneath large trees near Phathong Village, Ban Mae Tao, close to a road leading to a well-known factory in Mae Sot District, Tak Province.
Police and forensic officers arrived at the scene and found the deceased identified later as Mr. Ko Tin So Hawe, 25, a prominent figure in the LGBTQ community. The body was face down, wearing a yellow T-shirt under a jacket, with black sweatpants on the lower body. His underwear and sweatpants were pulled down around his buttocks. Dried blood was visible on his head and face. Nearby, a blood-stained wooden stick believed to be the murder weapon was found. Close to the body were an alcoholic drink bottle, the victim's shoulder bag, cosmetics, a bank passbook, condoms, and various personal items scattered around.
A source close to the victim said he disappeared during the night of 18 Jan 2026 and did not return to his residence. A person living with him added that before his disappearance, he made a social media call for help, seemingly preparing in advance. There was an online appointment arranged, and he received a phone call but did not meet at his room; instead, he chose a large vacant lot and sat in an open area surrounded by bushes.
Regarding the victim's possessions, his gold necklace, gold ring, gold bracelet, and iPhone 17 were missing. Currently, Police Lieutenant Colonel Boonlert Tipsribut, the investigating officer, is interviewing close contacts to track down the perpetrator and bring them to justice.