Pattaya —
A 46-year-old driver of a government agency was found dead in the government’s van with a gunshot wound to the head. The incident, suspected to be a suicide, occurred in the parking lot of a condominium complex in Jomtien, Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chonburi province.
At around 4:30 PM on Thursday, December 21st, Pattaya police received a report of a possible suicide at a condominium complex, whose name was withheld pending an ongoing investigation, in the Jomtien area.
Upon arrival, Pattaya police officers found the victim, whose name was withheld pending family permission, slumping in the driver’s seat of a Toyota Commuter van, which bore stickers from the Thai Department of Employment. The victim suffered a bullet wound to the right temple and was pronounced dead at the scene. Forensic teams collected a 9mm Sig Sauer P365 pistol and a spent bullet casing from inside the vehicle for further investigation.
Mr. Wutthichai Rodchon, a labor specialist from the Department of Employment and a superior of the victim, revealed that the victim was a driver of the department. He previously helped transport him and three immigration officers for an inspection at the condominium. After completing their duties, the officers returned to the van and discovered the victim slumped over in the driver’s seat. Initially mistaking him for passing out, they soon realized the severity of the situation after noticing blood on the side of his head.
Regarding the pistol, Mr. Wutthichai informed the Pattaya police that it belonged to him and that it was legally owned. He had left it inside a bag in the van and never thought that the victim would use it to shoot himself. Mr. Wutthichai added that he was unaware of the motive behind the tragic incident and expressed heartfelt sorrow for the victim. He mentioned that the victim was a cheerful person who was loved by all of his co-workers.
The deceased’s wife, Ms. Khaek (last name withheld), 45, arrived at the scene visibly distraught and provided a tearful testimonial. She revealed that just a few minutes before receiving news of her husband’s passing, they had a seemingly normal phone call about her day and when the victim would return home. The unexpected tragedy and lack of prior indication of the incident had left Ms. Khaek in shock and despair.
Authorities are currently investigating the motive behind the victim’s suspected suicide. According to Pattaya police, CCTV footage showed the van arriving at the condominium at 3:50 PM, followed by the officers exiting the vehicle for their inspection. Approximately 13 minutes later, they returned and found the victim deceased. The Pattaya police planned to conduct further interviews with all involved parties and a forensic autopsy would be performed to determine the exact cause of death.
If you or someone you know is feeling depressed please reach out for help. The Pattaya News suggests the Samaritans of Thailand which can be reached here:
https://www.facebook.com/Samaritans.Thailand/
