CHON BURI --A 25-year-old South Korean man was beaten to death, allegedly by mafia gang members from his country who have fled to Vietnam, and the body left at a resort in Bang Lamung district early Sunday.
The body of the man, identified by a compatriot as Im Dong Jun, was found at a luxury resort on Thetsaban 1 Road near Wat Huay Yai temple in tambon Huay Yai, police said. The body was found at 4am and reported by Yoon Myung Kun, 31, a South Korean national.
Police, forensic officials and rescue workers went to the scene and found the body of the man inside a black Honda CRV with a Bangkok licence plate parked at the resort.
Police said the man had died more than 24 hours before his death was reported. There were no documents or personal belongings or valuables with him.
The body would be sent to the forensic institute for a post-mortem examination.
Pol Maj Gen Amporn Buarapporn, chief of Chon Buri police, said Mr Yoon, the victim’s friend, had accused a South Korean national and mafia gang leader, identified as Kim Sung Pyo, 30, and an associate Lim Hyung Jin, 31, of beating the victim several days ago.
The CRV was parked in front of a resort room which the gang rented. The two suspects later fled to a neighbouring country, the Chon Buri chief quoted Mr Yoon as saying.
Police believed the murder might have stemmed from a conflict over an illicit activity as an initial investigation showed that the victim and the gang leader had reportedly run an unlawful business in Bangkok’s Min Buri area.
Pol Maj Gen Amporn said three police teams have been set up to locate the suspects.
He said officer will check to see whether Mr Yoon was involved in the death of his compatriot.
Mr Yoon initially told police that he drove the car on the day the victim was beaten. He claimed he had told the gang leader to send the injured man to a hospital, but Mr Kim refused and said the victim was pretending.
Instead, Mr Kim told him to drive the car with the victim inside to the resort and leave it there.
Mr Yoon told police the gang leader and his aide had fled to Vietnam, but he could not leave the country because his passport had been taken by Mr Kim.