Police believe a man whose body was found floating in a Phuket canal early yesterday morning was murdered.
Rescue workers pulled the body of the unidentified man from Khlong Tha Chin in Rassada around 7.15am yesterday after it was spotted by local fishermen, The Phuket News reported.
Police said the man, who was not carrying any identification on him, had bruises around his neck which was broken, and that he had betel and rice in his pockets.
“This is quite odd, as for those who believe in superstition, betel leaves, betel nuts and rice are used in rituals to suppress the soul,” Phuket City Police Lt Col Chaleaw Taihu said.
Police believe the man, aged between 25 and 30, was murdered as it appeared that he had been hit on the neck with a blunt object.
The body was badly decomposed and had tiny wounds believed to be bites from marine animals, but no other prominent wounds.
“We have questioned local people but no one knows the man and they do not think he is Thai,” Lt Col Chaleaw added.
Police believe the man is a migrant worker but are not sure of his nationality.
The area he was found in was near the main fishing pier, and many migrant workers from Myanmar, Indonesia, Taiwan and the Philippines are known to work in the fishing industry.
Lt Col Chaleaw said police are investigating while they wait for doctors to confirm the cause of death.
Story: The Phuket News
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