Phuket is shocked at Kamala Market by the discovery of a 37-year-old police officer from Kamala Police Station found dead inside a pickup truck. A charcoal stove was found inside the vehicle, and authorities are rushing to determine the true cause.
At about 18:15 on 12 Oct 2026, Police Lieutenant Colonel Peerawat Yodto, Investigator of Kamala Police Station, Phuket, received a call from a good Samaritan reporting a person possibly deceased inside a vehicle in the parking lot of Coconut Market, Kamala Subdistrict, Kathu District, Phuket. He reported this to Police Colonel Anurak Prinya Sathirakul, Chief of Kamala Police Station, before leading officers to investigate.
At the scene, the deceased was identified as Police Corporal Attapon Muangnok, 37, nicknamed “Pond,” a squad leader (administrative) at Kamala Police Station. He was found sitting dead in the driver's seat of a four-door pickup truck with license plate Khok 5041 Nakhon Si Thammarat, which belonged to him.
Preliminary inspection found a charcoal stove, apparently recently lit, placed on the rear footwell of the vehicle. Authorities contacted forensic and medical examiners to inspect the scene and collect evidence. The body was then handed to Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation staff to transport to Vachira Phuket Hospital for a thorough autopsy.
Colleagues reported that the deceased lived alone in police accommodation at Kamala Police Station. He was last seen around 09:00 on the same day, after which no one saw him until the evening incident report.
A coconut vendor at the market said he saw the deceased’s vehicle parked there since the afternoon, with the engine running and the man sitting inside. At first, he thought he was simply using his phone as usual.
Another eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, said they saw the deceased park his vehicle at the scene at about 11:00.
Authorities are currently examining evidence and awaiting autopsy results to determine the precise cause of death. They will provide updates as the investigation progresses.