PATTAYA: Police are searching for a South Korean national, Park Keunhui, 38, suspected in the stabbing of a Korean compatriot and theft of 900,000 baht in Pattaya early on Thursday.
The suspect is alleged to have stabbed victim Park Jin-hyung, 28, 17 times with the intent to kill, tourist police chief Pol Lt Gen Chettha Komolwatthana said at Pattaya tourist police station yesterday.
This was based on information given by the victim, who had regained consciousness and was able to speak with police, he said. The victim had been in a coma since being admitted to Chon Buri Hospital with severe haemorrhaging early on Thursday morning.
The victim told police that he ran a spa business in Pattaya, has a Thai wife, and had met the suspect three months ago. As they were from the same country, they became close friends and frequently went out together. The suspect had told the victim that he planned to start a business in Pattaya.
On Wednesday night, they went out to an entertainment venue, and the suspect saw that he had a large amount of cash in his car, Mr Park said.
The suspect then asked him to drive to the crime scene, the deserted Sen Rong Moo Road in South Pattaya, to pick up another friend. That was where the suspect attacked him.