Brit tourist, 71, questioned by cops after Thai hooker found dead inside hotel room by cleaner who noticed horror smell
An investigation is underway into the death of a Thai hooker who was discovered dead in his hotel room. The tourist claims he was unaware of her decomposing body for four days.
At a guest home in ‘Sin City’ Pattaya, eastern Thailand, on December 18, the 71-year-old was last spotted kissing and holding hands with 45-year-old Duangta Khampongsom as he led her to his bedroom.
She was never seen alive again, but four days later, on December 22, the British woman was spotted on CCTV leaving the room with a frightened expression.
Later that morning, Prayoon Chinsai, 57, the building caretaker, reported a bad smell emanating from the room to the police.
The woman’s half-naked body was decomposing on the bed when he used a spare key to access the door after knocking and getting no response.
The British national, who also has an Irish passport issued in Ireland, was at a nearby bar when officers arrived at the building.
He said he ‘did not know she was dead’, but he did not report the body to the police despite knowing about it.
Officers are continuing to question him about his strange remarks, according to Police Captain Puttharak Sonkhamhan of the Pattaya City Police Station.
“The woman had been dead for three days or more,” he claimed. The room was filled with the stench of her rotting and bloating flesh.
“She had nothing on her upper body and was only dressed in denim shorts. There were no indications of a scuffle or looting in the room.
“Her body was already decaying, so it would be hard to miss that she was dead.
“There was also fluid and blood on the bed.”
After searching for the British senior, police discovered him drinking at a club near Jomtien Beach.
When he was taken into custody, he was reportedly dazed and bewildered.
The British man said that after Duangta, a prostitute from a local bar, was allegedly beaten by an unidentified assailant on December 18, he had invited her to remain in his room.
On the evening of December 18, Duangta, wearing a black shirt and a white cap, is seen going with the visitor down the hotel corridor in CCTV footage that the police were able to get.
On December 22, the 71-year-old was then observed leaving the room by himself.
He was captured checking both sides of the hallway before heading to a row of bars on the beach.
“She kept vomiting and sleeping the whole time, but I did not think it was anything abnormal,” he allegedly told authorities. I could see that she was tired and feeble. Our last conversation was on December 19.
The Brit claimed he did not realise she had died ‘because there was no unusual smell’ in the room. He denied causing the deceased harm or death.
Kaew, the 65-year-old bar owner, called the deceased Duangta a “regular heavy drinker” and a “alcoholic.”
On the evening of December 18, she said, she witnessed the British vacationer turn Duangta away.
Pim, a 46-year-old former coworker of Duangta, also called her a barfly.
She said: “Duangta had known the British man for less than two weeks. I don’t think he killed her, but I find it strange that she died in his room.”
Duangta’s body was taken to the Bang Lamung Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Doctors have not clarified the cause of her death.
Police Captain Puttharak added: “We summoned the British man to the police station for further questioning.
“Forensic police are continuing to collect fingerprints and DNA because we do not believe his testimony. All CCTV is being checked.”
Former fishing village Pattaya became popular with American troops on “rest and relaxation” breaks in the 1960s when the US military had bases in Thailand.
In the ensuing years, the coastal resort spawned into a semi-barbarous sex-tourism Mecca.
Embarrassed officials have made progress in gentrifying the region with family tourism projects but a ravenous nightlife industry has remained, and continues to attract men from around the world.
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