Chiang mai: Police have arrested a man for murdering and burning the body of a homeless man under a bridge in downtown Chiang Mai to conceal the crime. The suspect in the murder, identified as Mr. Pa-nae, was apprehended following the discovery of the victim's charred remains.
According to Thai News Agency, authorities from Chang Phueak Police Station in Chiang Mai Province have taken Mr. Pa-nae, also a homeless individual, into custody. He is accused of stabbing Mr. Boonrueng, a 51-year-old homeless man, in the neck before setting his body alight under the Rattanakhosin Bridge. This incident occurred three days prior to the arrest, and Mr. Pa-nae is currently undergoing interrogation as part of the ongoing investigation. Due to the severe nature of the crime, the Commander of Police Region 5 is expected to arrive to further question the suspect. Mr. Pa-nae faces charges of murder and concealment of a corpse.
The case came to light when Chiang Mai Municipality was alerted to a fire beneath the Rattanakosin Bridge. Firefighters dispatched to the scene discovered the remains of Mr. Boonrueng. Police, along with forensic experts from Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, were called to investigate. They found the victim severely burned, with some body parts still intact, and identified a stab wound to the neck. This evidence suggests that Mr. Boonrueng was likely deceased before the fire was set. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage which led to the identification of Mr. Pa-nae as the perpetrator. Authorities are also probing whether he is linked to other similar incidents, including a previous case involving a homeless man found burned to death near the Chiang Mai Arcade bus terminal.