Prosecutors reject police’s suicide theory

The death of nursing assistant Natnaree Melgul in November last year on Koh Samui is being investigated as a potential murder after initially being treated as a suicide, a lawyer representing the victim’s family says.

Atchariya Rungrattanapong, president of the the Club for Justice Under Investigation, said yesterday the prosecutors disagreed with the investigation report and had asked police to re-investigate.

The police report submitted by Bo Phut police station established that Natnaree’s death was a suicide.

She was found hanging on Nov 21 last year at her rented house in tambon Bo Phut, Samui district.

Mr Atchariya said prosecutors’ opinions were based on an autopsy report issued by Koh Samui Hospital and witness statements which suggested that foul play was a possibility.

‘‘The letter from prosecutors [seeking a new investigation] also suggests tampering with evidence,’’ he said.

Mr Atchariya said the victim’s boyfriend, identified as Manas Phetpong, may be summoned for questioning in connection with Natnaree’s death.

Pol Col Wichob Kerdkliang, of Police Region 8, has ordered Bo Phut police station to re-investigate, the lawyer said.

Natnaree’s parents, however, are convinced their daughter was a victim of foul play, citing physical injuries sustained by their daughter.

Prosecutors believe Natnaree may have been physically assaulted, citing bruises on her right eye and on her right wrist, and witness statements.

Mr Atchariya said prosecutors also pointed to the investigators’ sloppiness in handling the case. They failed to thoroughly take photos of the crime scene and failed to seize the piece of cloth used in the hanging for examination.