Three held over murder of Scottish millionaire and wife in Thailand
● Bodies found buried in garden of couple’s luxury home in Thailand
Police in northern Thailand have arrested three men over the murder of an Edinburgh millionaire and his wife.
Officers had been searching for Alan Hogg, 64, and his wife Nott Suddaen, 61, since they were reported missing last Thursday.
The couple’s bodies were found buried in the garden of their luxury mansion in the northern Thailand town of Phrae.
Bloodstains were reportedly found at the address, but there were signs someone had tried to wipe them away.
A mobile phone was still charging at the three-storey house when police arrived to search the property.
The three men told police they received a total of £1,175 (50,000 baht) from Mr Hogg’s brother-in-law Warut Satchakit, 63, to carry out the murder amidst a family feud over money.
Satchakit was initially arrested after being seen on CCTV stealing the couple’s brand new white Ford Ranger pickup truck. It was recovered yesterday 300 miles away in Ayutthaya near Bangkok, having been sold.
Satchakit was seen on CCTV
entering and leaving the property, where he also worked, after the couple went missing.
He denies any involvement in their disappearance and was released, but has now been rearrested in connection with the murder, according to TV news reports.
Police discovered the couple’s bodies yesterday behind a duck pond after using excavation equipment.
Major General Sanpat Praputsra said: “Warut Satchakit has been arrested again
for the theft of the car and being involved with murder.
“Three suspects were traced from forensic checks on the car. They have confessed to the murder of Mr Hogg and his
wife, Nott. They used a shotgun to kill 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 that the victims were then buried in the garden.”
The couple were initially reported missing last Thursday when friends had unsuccessfully tried to contact them on messaging app Line.
Their daughter Robyn Hogg, 31, flew to Thailand from England after being alerted to her parents’ disappearance.
Renowned restaurateur Mr Hogg founded Professional Linen Services in 1996, a laundry firm started in his utility room at home.
The company, which is now based at Sherwood Industrial Estate in Bonnyrigg, was acquired in July last year by Johnson Service Group Plc.
Mr Hogg arrived in Thailand several years ago after working as an engineer in Australia.
Alongside his wife, Mr Hogg was known to rear ducks, geese and cattle on their property. He built the sprawling family home on a large plot of land in one of the country’s most northerly provinces.