Mutilated body parts recently found in a forest in Rayong province are likely to belong to a missing South Korean man, police said.
Pol Maj Gen Chumphon Phumphuang, chief of Rayong police, on Wednesday met with police investigators for a progress report on the probe into the mutilation of a human body. The investigation team focused on four possible motives: a romantic conflict, illicit trade, an act of revenge and unpaid debts.
Body parts stuffed in black plastic bags were found at Nong Sanom forest reserve in tambon Noen Phra in Muang district on Monday by a local resident. Two travel bags were later found at a fishing village on Takuan beach in tambon Mab Taphut, about five kilometres from the site where the body parts were found.
Forensic police had collected fingerprints and bloodstains found on the bags for DNA testing to find out whether they matched with the body parts, Thai media reported.
The investigation team was still looking for three missing parts of the victim -- the head, the left arm and a thigh. They believed a dog might have taken the missing body parts.
Thai media reported that Rayong police received a letter from the South Korean embassy on Wednesday asking the police to investigate the disappearance of South Korean national Myonghoon Choi, 39. The man had entered the country via Suvarnabhumi airport and later went missing in Rayong.
The investigators believed the mutilated parts found in this eastern province might belong to the missing South Korean man.
Police and forensic officers inspect body parts found at a forest reserve in Rayong on Jan 21. (Photos from Thevathuen Srisopha Facebook page)