The parents of a Chinese woman who died mysteriously on Koh Samui island, Surat Thani province, four years ago have petitioned the Justice Ministry to reinvestigate her death.
The case involves a husband already wanted in Sweden for the death of his previous wife, a sudden decision by the Department of Investigation (DSI) to drop the case against him in Thailand following his new wife's death here, and a Chinese foreign affairs family who believe their daughter's death was no accident.
Lin Guo Heng and Wang Ai Zhen arrived in Thailand from Dalian city of China's Liaoning province on Sunday.
On Monday they filed a request with Pol Col Dusadee Arayawuthi, deputy permanent secretary for justice, for a new inquiry into the death of their daughter Lin Lin.
Pol Col Dusadee, said Lin Lin arrived at Koh Samui island on Jan 10, 2013 on vacation with her husband You Lin. She was found dead in the swimming pool of the resort home they stayed at in tambon Angthong on Jan 18. On Jan 20, You Lin informed his wife's relatives that Lin Lin had drowned.
Her family did not believe drowning was the cause of her death. A forensic examination by doctors at the Police Hospital concluded Lin Lin died of suffocation and there were marks on her neck suggesting she was strangled. The family filed a complaint with Samui police, and a warrant was obtained for You Lin's arrest.
You Lin petitioned the Crime Suppression Division, leading to the setting up of a fact-finding committee by the Royal Thai Police.
The Department of Special Investigation was assigned to investigate. The DSI later ordered the case dismissed.
Undeterred, the family filed a lawsuit against You Lin with the Samui Court. The court accepted the case for further proceedings and issued an arrest warrant for You Lin, who was apprehended and later released on bail.
To ensure justice, the family decided to also petition the Justice Ministry, seeking a new investigation.
On receiving the petition on Monday, Pol Col Dusadee said he assigned Pol Lt Col Benjapol Chanthawan, of DSI special cases, to investigate. He told the family this would take about one month.
Any new information would be for the family to hand over to Samui Court for consideration, as the case is already with the court.
Narong Thongkham, the lawyer for the Chinese family, said the Chinese embassy in Thailand showed a lot of interest in the case. Lin Guo Heng, Lin Lin's father, is an official of the Chinese foreign ministry.
The family suspected You Lin had murdered Lin Lin. He said Swedish police had earlier issued a warrant for You Lin's arrest for allegedly killing his Swedish wife. You Lin fled to China. Nine years later he married Lin Lin.