The missing husband of a local kamnan in Phichit province has been found murdered with his genitals cut off and police are speculating that he had one love affair too many.
Police question local residents after the murder of the husband of a local leader whose emasculated, naked body was found in a banana orchard. (Photo by Sitthipoj Kebui)
The man's naked body was found lying face down in a banana orchard along the Phichit River in Muang district on Wednesday afternoon.
When police and rescue workers turned the body over they were shocked to see his genitalia had been hacked off. He also had several knife wounds and severe bruising to his body, particularly his back, police said.
Relatives identified the man as Amporn Damminsek, 49, the husband of Sakulta Damminsek, the sub-district chief of tambon Paikhwang in Phichit’s Muang district.
Mrs Sakulta had earlier filed a complaint with police asking them to find her husband who had been missing for a week.
Amporn’s clothes were later found in a paddy field at Ban Nonpaikhui in Sam Ngam district, about 15 km from his house.
His wife then consulted local fortune tellers who said someone used "dark magic" on her husband, who was wealthy and owned several rice harvesters worth several million baht. His wealth attracted quite a few women.
However, there was no trace of him until a resident of Ban Nonpaikhui came across his body at about 2pm on Wednesday.
Pol Col Thawatchai Muannara, deputy chief of Phichit police, said an initial investigation found the man had been romantically involved with a married woman in Sam Ngam district, with the consent of her husband.
Mr Amporn had reportedly promised to give her valuables and money in return for her favours, but later reneged on his word.
The husband was a suspect. He might have been driven to take revenge and asked his wife to lure the victim to a brutal and fatal meeting, and emasculated him, said Pol Col Thawatchai.
The deputy provincial police chief said investigators had found clues to the murder. It was thought at least three people were involved, and they would be arrested soon, he said.