A medical student from Nakhon Ratchasima who is suspected of killing one and possibly two Pomeranian puppies with drug overdoses in the past six weeks to profit from delivery firms' compensation coverage will be summoned for questioning on Monday, police said.
Pol Lt Col Suebpong Karuna, deputy chief of investigators at Sutthisan station, said police can seek an arrest warrant for the man for attempted fraud, based on their investigation.
Complaints against Phattarapong Songsapkul, a sixth-year medical student at Bangkok's Mahidol University, have been lodged by Watchdog Thailand (WDT) and HSK Express International and Service Co, a transport firm, for attempted fraud and animal cruelty.
Natthanan Jeerawiwitporn, the owner of HSK Express, said the student contacted the company in July to transport a seven-month-old Pomeranian to a local animal hospital.
He requested insurance coverage worth 40,000 baht, Ms Natthanan said.
She said the dog appeared tired when it was transported on July 31.
One hour after the student and animal were taken to the hospital, Mr Phattarapong called Ms Natthanan to inform her it had died, she said.
He demanded 40,000 baht compensation but she refused as the animal was still alive when it arrived at its destination, she said.
Pol Lt Col Suebpong said the animal cruelty allegation for the earlier case lacks crucial evidence, namely, the medicine the suspect allegedly used to kill his pet.
Ms Natthanan said she later learned the student had contacted another company, run by her brother, seeking to transport 10 rabbits.
He requested insurance coverage of 5,000 baht per rabbit but the owner declined, Ms Natthanan said.
Meanwhile, police have learned the same student demanded compensation from another pet delivery firm, PetMovers, after it transported another of his Pomeranian puppies from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima last week.
The provincial livestock office there found 12 medicinal pills in the Pomeranian's stomach in the latest case after an autopsy was conducted, police said.
The medicine is believed to be for treating hypertension, they added.
The office lodged a complaint with police in Nakhon Ratchasima, which led to three witnesses being questioned on Saturday, Pol Maj Mongkol Kuptisirirat said.
A separate complaint has been lodged by PetMovers, he said.
A college acquaintance told police Mr Phattarapong was suspended from his studies and ordered to seek treatment for a mental illness. He has since resumed his studies.
Some reports suggest the episode has jeopardised the student's chances of graduating in medicine.