Thai judge found dead in Leh, India

Mystery surrounds the death of a Thai court judge who was found dead during his holiday in Ladakh, a region of India.

Court of Justice spokesman Suriyan Hongwilai said the dead man, Paakphum Pongchaiphum, 37, was a judge at Udon Thani provincial court.

He died while he was visiting the city of Leh in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, with his friends.

The cause of his death has not been identified and Thai authorities are waiting for autopsy results from Indian officials, he said.

Paakphum died on Monday night. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted his relatives yesterday morning. They are in the process of bringing his body back to Thailand, Mr Suriyan said.

His friends suspected that the thin air as well as different air pressure in Leh, which is 3,500 metres above sea level, might be part of the cause of his death, Mr Suriyan said.

On Facebook, Paakphum posted pictures of his trip about 8pm on Monday.