Police have narrowed down the motive for the murder of a Hmong family of five in a remote plantation in Tak province to unpaid wages, as a manhunt is underway for three Myanmar workers suspected of involvement.
The investigation focused on three migrant workers who disappeared after the murder, Pol Col Wasant Sirikarnkomol, chief of Wang Chao police, said after a meeting with investigators from Tak provincial police on Friday.
The three suspects were hired to work at the slain family’s ginger plantation in tambon Chiang Thong, Wang Chao district.
The five bodies were found near the Nakhiri stream about 10 kilometres from the centre of Sri Khiri Rak village in tambon Chiang Thong, Wang Chao district of this northern province. There were assault wounds on their bodies, police said.
The family of five, identified as Jia Saengsawang, 34; her husband Chao Manpatanakarn, 46; and three children aged three months, seven years and 10 years, are believed to have been murdered on Sunday, as their relatives lost contact with them that day.
Police had yet to find a gun and a knife that were used in the murder, said Pol Col Wasant.
A farm truck owned by the family went missing, and it was believed to have been stolen by the three workers, he said.
On Friday, police took four Myanmar nationals who used to work at the slain man’s plantation for questioning at Wang Chao station. The slain family's relatives were also called for questioning.
There were reports that the missing farm tractor was found in Mae Lamao area of Mae Sot district in this northern province on Friday.
According to investigators, Chao allegedly scolded his workers, including the three missing suspects who had worked with his family for three years. The officers believed the motive for the killing might be unpaid wages.
A manhunt was being mounted for the three suspects along border areas. Their names were not disclosed by police.