Mysterious Case in Bangkok - Thailand: Six people cleared from luxury hotel
Many hours have puzzled investigators over the mysterious deaths of six people at a luxury hotel in Bangkok. The bodies of three men and three women from Vietnam were discovered by hotel staff on an early Tuesday evening (local time) in a room on the fifth floor of the hotel in the heart of the metropolis. However, there were no signs of violence, and robbery was quickly ruled out.
The investigation has since revealed that a 56-year-old woman from the group is believed to have administered a very potent poison to the other five and then consumed it herself. Extremely high debts were the reason, according to the responsible police chief Thiradej Thammasuthee.
Poison in Cups
"We can confirm that one of the six deceased persons was involved in this incident with cyanide," explained the deputy head of investigations, Noppasil Poonsawas. "We are convinced that one of the six people committed this crime." Interrogated relatives of the deceased confirmed that there had been a dispute over money beforehand.
At the scene, authorities found residues of a substance in cups. Various media had already speculated that it could have been cyanide (cyanide). And a detail that caught the investigators' attention: The door was locked from the inside, so no other suspect could have gained access to the hotel room.
A seventh person, whom the Police initially searched for, was not involved in the case, it was said. According to the immigration office, this is the sister of one of the victims. She had already flown back to Vietnam a few days earlier.
The case caused quite a stir in Thailand. Initially, there were rumors of a shootout - but the authorities quickly dismissed these reports. Above all, the government feared that any negative publicity could harm the important tourism sector, which is just starting to recover from the Corona pandemic.
The Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel is well-known and located in a popular area with several shopping malls. Nearby is also the famous Erawan Shrine, one of the holiest religious sites in Bangkok.
Even Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha felt compelled to intervene and hold a press conference that evening to answer questions from dozens of journalists. "It is believed that they have been dead for approximately 24 hours. During the initial inspection of the crime scene, there were no signs of robbery or violence," he explained.
Dispute over Money
A police spokesperson had previously stated that the guests had not checked out of the hotel as planned on Tuesday. Hotel staff discovered the bodies while cleaning the room. According to police reports, there were plates with food on the table, most of which was still in foil packaging.
Two of the Vietnamese, who had checked into the hotel over the weekend, also possessed a US passport, including the alleged perpetrator. The group occupied different rooms on the seventh and fifth floors.
The Thai newspaper "Khaosod" reported, citing the authorities, that the alleged perpetrator had previously persuaded an married couple from the group to invest in the construction of a hospital in Japan. However, the couple had lost around 250,000 Euro in the process - and the 56-year-old had repeatedly demanded that they pay for the loss. Eventually, both parties had agreed to meet for a discussion in Japan. However, due to visa issues, the group had then fled to Thailand.
The mysterious deaths at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel in Bangkok, a popular destination for tourists, has raised concerns about crime in Thailand's tourism sector. Despite initial rumors of a shootout, the police identified a dispute over money as the possible motive.
The deputy head of investigations, Noppasil Poonsawas, confirmed that cyanide was involved in the crime, suggesting a high level of criminality in this case. The Crime Branch of the Royal Thai Police is leading the investigation, involving interviews with relatives and close associates.
Interestingly, Bangkok's luxury hotels have seen an increase in unusual incidents, making tourists wonder about their safety. Some women travelers have expressed concerns about the rise in crime against women in Vietnam, calling for stronger measures to protect tourists.
Moreover, the case has sparked discussions about the role of police in dealing with such incidents effectively. The police in Thailand need to address the issue of crime and maintain security in tourist-heavy areas like Bangkok to save the city's reputation and the reviving tourism industry.
The strange events at the luxury hotel have also raised questions about the ethics of the men involved in financial schemes like the hospital construction project. The police are looking into their role in the crimes committed and how they contributed to the financial disputes leading to the unfortunate deaths.
