SATUN — Two brothers have been arrested and charged with attempted murder after the younger one stabbed a Belgian diving instructor who tried to stop him from beating his wife on Lipe island on Sunday.
Pol Maj Theeradej Rattanawijit, an investigator at Lipe police station, said Peter Venden Abili, 28, was stabbed twice in the stomach by Sarawut Nardma behind Castaway Resort on Sunrise beach at about 1.30am.
Mr Abili saw Mr Sarawut, 28, having a heated argument with his wife and physically assaulting her. The Belgian tried to stop him from hurting the woman. Mr Sarawut was upset by the intervention and started to fight Mr Abili.
He then ran to his house and grabbed a 12-inch-long knife and returned to search for Mr Abili. He was accompanied by his brother, Adirek Nardma, who was in the house at that time. The brothers later found Mr Abili and beat him up before Mr Sarawut attacked him with the knife.
The two went into hiding on the island but were arrested later in the day. They confessed to the crime and were charged with premeditated attempted murder as well as illegally carrying a knife in public.
Mr Abili, who was badly hurt, received initial treatment at Koh Lipe public health office and was later transferred to Satun Hospital. Doctors described his condition on Sunday evening as “safe and stable”.