The chief of Pravet Police Station revealed progress in the case of an assailant who fatally beat and robbed an elderly grocer. CCTV footage captured the suspect, believed to be a regular customer, a Myanmar man about 20 years old. Authorities are expediting the issuance of an arrest warrant for him in connection with the crime.
The case involves a suspect using a blunt club to strike the head of 79-year-old Thawatchai Siwilai, owner of a grocery store, in a robbery. The incident occurred at a house in Soi Nakika Laemthong 40, Thap Chang subdistrict, Saphan Sung district, Bangkok, during the morning of 24 August.
At 14:30 on 25 August, Pol. Col. Thotsaphon Ampaipipatkul, chief of Pravet Police Station, stated that investigators from Pravet Police Station and the Metropolitan Police Division 4 have collected evidence and identified the suspect—a Myanmar man approximately in his twenties. The evidence includes clothing, shoes, physical characteristics, and the suspect's routes entering and leaving the crime scene. The case is nearly 100% clear, and authorities are rushing to issue an arrest warrant for robbery causing death and nighttime home invasion.
Witnesses revealed that the suspect previously lived in an apartment behind Mr. Thawatchai’s house, which is now abandoned. The suspect was not an employee but a regular customer. Before the apartment closed, he moved to live near Ramkhamhaeng. It is believed the perpetrator was familiar with the area and Mr. Thawatchai’s daily routines.
The Pravet Police chief added that CCTV footage showed the suspect arriving alone around 10:00 p.m. The act appeared targeted; the suspect entered the house and searched for valuables, stealing a mobile phone and cash amounting to 5,000–6,000 baht.
It is suspected that before the incident, Mr. Thawatchai was sleeping on the first floor when he heard unusual noises. He took a flashlight and a long stick to investigate and defend himself, while the suspect tried to hide and moved toward the kitchen area.
Mr. Thawatchai then confronted the suspect, leading to a struggle in the kitchen where the tragic event occurred. This area was not covered by CCTV, but cameras inside the house recorded behavior leading up to the incident.
Initially, three wounds were found on the victim: two on the back of the head and one on the temple. Blood traces indicated a struggle. Police suspect the weapon was a club found broken inside the house. The victim had a long stick for defense. The suspect fled through the back of the house, changed clothes, and discarded bloodstained clothing near a trash bin about 100 meters from the residence in Soi Ramkhamhaeng 52/1.
Pol. Col. Thotsaphon confirmed that evidence from CCTV and investigations shows only one perpetrator, unrelated to the victim’s two employees. The employees recognized the suspect as a regular customer who once lived in the apartment behind the victim’s house, although they did not know his name. Upon seeing the images, they could identify him.
Currently, police are pursuing the suspect, who is believed to still be in Thailand.