CHON BURI: A Chinese tourist was found dead in a condominium room in Pattaya beach town in the early hours of Thursday with a bowl containing burned charcoal near him.
The body of the 41-year-old, whose name was withheld pending notification of relatives, was found lying on the floor of the eighth-floor room on Soi Thepprasit in South Pattaya area, Bang Lamung district, about 1am by a member of the condominium staff, police said
He was wearing a black T-shirt, long black pants and socks and was believed to have been dead for at least 24 hours.
A stainless steel bowl containing burned charcoal was on the floor at his feet. Police said there was no sign of foul play and the man had 1,000 baht in cash with him.
Staff at the condominium told police the tourist had stayed there for three days and had been due to check out but had not done so.
A staffer went to check the room. She knocked on the door several times and received no response, so she used a spare key to go inside.
Police believed the man died from smoke inhalation and that it was possibly suicide. The body was sent for post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.