Cops find Canadian dead in cell
All evidence surrounding the death of a Canadian drug suspect found hanged in his cell yesterday morning points to suicide, police claim.
An initial examination of the body, together with witness statements, found “no clues that suggest he didn’t hang himself”, commander attached to Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) Pol Maj Gen Sunthon Chalermkiat said.
US authorities, who asked Thai police to arrest Alexander Cazes after the 26-year-old fled drugs charges there, have raised no questions, he said.
Cazes was being detained by the NSB in Laksi district when officers found him dead yesterday morning, a few hours before a deportation hearing. He was arrested in Bangkok on July 5 and arrangements were being made for his return to the US to face charges there.
A duty officer noticed a towel hanging from the toilet door in his cell about 7am, but could not see him, police said. The officer unlocked and entered the cell and found Cazes dead in the toilet.
The duty officer and a female suspect detained in the opposite cell both said they saw nothing suspicious.
Cazes had asked what time it was before entering the toilet to take a shower. He was due to meet prosecutors at the court as part of the deportation proceedings, said Pol Maj Gen Surasak Khunnarong, chief of the NSB’s first unit, citing witness accounts. Surveillance camera footage of the cell showed no signs of physical assault, he said.
The towel was among his personal belongings and he was believed to have used it to hang himself.
The Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant on June 30 at the request of US authorities. Cazes was arrested at the Private House estate on Buddha Monthon Sai 3 Road in Thawi Watthana district.
Pol Maj Gen Chayapoj Hasunha, chief of the NSB’s intelligence section, said Cazes had lived in Thailand for about eight years, working as a computer programmer. He had a Thai wife.
A source said police who arrested Cazes impounded four Lamborghini cars and three houses worth about 400 million baht in total.