Khon Kaen: A local coffee vendor is facing premeditated murder charges after a man was found stabbed to death by a roadside in a village in Si Chomphu district on Wednesday, police say.
Thongchai Sudnoi, 39, was apprehended by police at a house in tambon Nongdaeng, Si Chomphu district.
It appeared the suspect was packing his belongings with a plan to flee the province, Deputy Commander of Provincial Police Region 4 Chatupon Panraksa said yesterday.
Police also found a pickup truck, 69,250 baht in cash, two books of government lottery tickets worth 61,000 baht, six passbooks and a knife.
All items were seized as evidence.
Pol Maj Gen Chatupon was speaking at a press briefing at the Provincial Police Region 4 office in Khon Kaen.
According to police, Mr Thongchai confessed to an investigator that he stabbed Somchai Baomeesee, 59, to death and stole 70,000 baht and the lottery tickets from him.
Mr Thongchai allegedly told police he met Somchai and his wife, Boonma, at the Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, Si Chomphu branch, on Wednesday where he was supposed to give some documents to his relatives at the bank.
Police allege he saw the couple counting their cash after having withdrawn 120,000 baht to purchase lottery tickets through the bank.
The suspect then approached Somchai to start a conversation but the victim did not respond to his advance, police said.
Mr Thongchai allegedly told police he followed the couple who were riding a motorcycle home in his pickup truck.
When the couple neared Nothonglang village, the suspect said he drove at high speed up close to the motorcycle the couple was riding, causing it to skid off the road and into a ditch.
Mr Thongchai told police he tried to take the money and lottery tickets from Ms Boonma who was unconscious but Somchai resisted.
The suspect said he used a knife to stab Somchai to death before stealing the money and tickets.
Police said the suspect said he wanted money to help pay for his pickup truck because his coffee business was not making a profit.
A background check found Mr Thongchai had no criminal record in the province, police said.
The suspect was taken to Si Chomphu police station for further questioning, police said.