HORROR IN PARADISE
Scots millionaire and Thai wife ‘are killed by £400 hitmen hired by her brother’ then buried in own garden
A RETIRED Scots businessman and his Thai wife were yesterday found buried in the grounds of their luxury villa as three alleged hitmen confessed to killing them for only £400 each.
Alan Hogg, 64, was allegedly blasted with a shotgun near his swimming pool while his wife Nott, 61, was bludgeoned to death with a hammer in the garage of their mansion.
Their bodies were discovered buried next to a duck pond at their dream retirement home in Phrae, northern Thailand.
Mrs Hogg’s brother, Warut Satchakit, 63, has been accused of ordering the murders amid a feud with his sister over money.
He fell under suspicion after being seen on CCTV stealing the couple’s brand new Ford Ranger pick-up truck from their home. It was recovered 300 miles away, having been sold.
He admitted the theft but denied any involvement in the murders. However, three Thai men told police that Satchakit had paid them 50,000 baht (£1,175) to kill his sister and her husband.
The couple, who married in Morningside, Edinburgh, in 1986, have a daughter, Robyn, 31, who lives in Manchester. A film director who studied at Edinburgh Napier University, she was alerted to their disappearance by friends who became concerned when the Hoggs did not respond to messages and then found the couple’s house empty.
Miss Hogg flew to Thailand after her parents were reported missing last Thursday.
Neighbours in Phrae described Mrs Hogg as ‘the most beautiful woman in the town’ and said Mr Hogg was a very friendly ‘millionaire’ who often helped them.
The Scot, who was born in Zambia, had several business interests in the UK and until recently was a director of laundry firm Professional Linen Services, based in Bonnyrigg, Midlothian. The company was sold last year.
Mr Hogg built the couple’s substantial retirement home himself. The three-storey mansion has an outdoor pool complete with changing rooms and a summer house.
Yesterday morning, following a six-day search that included sniffer dogs, police used an excavator to dig up an area next to the duck pond in the 32-acre grounds of the gated home.
Officers found the couple’s bodies in a 6ft deep grave.
The remains have been sent for post mortem examinations after which they are expected to be formally identified.
Blood stains – with signs someone had tried to wipe them away – had earlier been found in the swimming pool changing rooms.
Officers also found a phone that was still charging in the living room when they were first called to the house.
Major General Sanpat Praputsra said Mr Hogg’s brother-in-law had been arrested on suspicion of masterminding the double murder.
He added: ‘Three suspects were traced from forensic checks on the car. They have confessed to the murder of Mr Alan and his wife Nott. They used a shotgun to kill Mr Alan and said they buried him near the ducks.
‘The villains used a hammer to murder his wife in the garage. Three people were involved in the murders with the instructions that it was their duty to kill the targets.
‘They said the victims were then buried in the garden.’
Earlier he said there had been ill-feeling between family members, adding: ‘The issue is likely to be a long-standing conflict within the family.
‘We cannot find any other situations that are likely to have caused this.
‘The brother-in-law had problems with money and there were family issues.’
Phrae police commander Colonel Manas Kerdsukho added:
Riddle of missing Scot and Thai wife as police probe their blood-spattered villa From yesterday’s Mail
‘The motive for the killings was a long-running internal family conflict, feuds and property.’
Mr Hogg’s cousin Derek Jardine, speaking from his home in Edinburgh, said: ‘I knew things were bad but I didn’t think it was that bad.’
Police say they have CCTV footage of Mrs Hogg’s brother entering the property last Wednesday.
The couple’s pick-up truck was spotted on CCTV being driven in Sukhothai and Lampang provinces on Friday.
Detectives disclosed that the pick-up truck had been located in Ayutthaya, a city around 50 miles north of Bangkok.
The driver said he had bought it for £70 and driven it to Ayutthaya on a business trip, but later contacted police after realising it was part of a criminal investigation. The truck has since been sent for forensic examination.
Earlier this week police said that Mr Hogg’s brother-in-law had denied any involvement and police did not have enough evidence to charge him over their disappearance.
Major General Praputsra said: ‘The brother has been released on bail and charged with burglary at night for stealing the vehicle. He said he was only on the grounds of the property to take the car.’
Family friend Mike Tate, from Liverpool, told the Daily Record Mrs Hogg’s younger brother had died in similarly tragic circumstances several years ago.
Mr Tate said he had known Mr Hogg for 40 years after meeting him in Singapore and said he did not believe reports in Thailand that he was a millionaire.
He said: ‘Nott’s younger brother disappeared some time back and was eventually found in a shallow grave.
‘The Thai people are absolutely lovely but you don’t ever want to cross them.
‘Alan worked offshore most of his life and was a diver. He’s definitely not a millionaire. He’s a very solid bloke and smashing fellow and returned to Edinburgh to sort out a new passport last year.
‘He built the house in Thailand and rents out some of the rooms to guests. He has a lot of land.’
Mr Hogg arrived in Thailand several years ago, having worked as an offshore construction engineer in Australia.
The couple travelled regularly to Australia, where Alan previously worked, for extended holidays.
The British embassy in Bangkok said staff were providing support to the family.
A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: ‘Our staff are providing support to the family of a British couple who have died in Thailand and we are in contact with the local authorities.’