Suspect in Thai barrel murder handed to the prosecution

A 27-year-old suspected of murdering a Korean tourist in Thailand was handed to the prosecution on Friday.

A 27-year-old suspect accused of murdering a Korean tourist in Thailand in May attends a hearing for an arrest warrant at the Changwon District Court in South Gyeongsang on July 12. [NEWS1]

A 27-year-old suspected of murdering a Korean tourist in Thailand was handed to the prosecution on Friday, nine days after his extradition from Cambodia to Korea.

The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Precinct said on the same day that it referred the Korean suspect to the state prosecution service on charges of robbery and murder.

He was accused of kidnapping and killing the tourist in his 30s with two other accomplices in Pattaya, Thailand on May 3. The victim was later found in a cement-filled barrel in a local reservoir.

Another accomplice, aged 26, was caught in North Jeolla in May. He has been undergoing a criminal trial as a detained suspect. Authorities believe the remaining 39-year-old suspect fled to a country near Thailand and intend to arrest him through cooperation with local police.

According to the prosecution, the three suspects escorted the victim — who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs — out of a nightclub in Thailand and committed the offense.

Specifically, the 27-year-old suspect helped the victim get in a car. Inside the vehicle, he and the 39-year-old suspect strangled and assaulted the victim, who complained about the direction that the car was heading.

Later, the oldest suspect also ordered the 26-year-old suspect to restrain the victim, who the investigative authorities believe died as a result of physical trauma.

The three suspects withdrew millions of Korean won using the victim’s phone after his death. After returning to their accommodation, they disposed of the body inside a barrel.

On May 9, the 27-year-old suspect fled to Cambodia. He was arrested in Phnom Penh on May 14 through cooperation with local police.

The suspect gave partial statements about the accusations, according to the police.

The police refused to share details about the investigation over concerns about manipulating statements as the 26-year-old suspect denied his involvement in the case over the course of the trial.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]