Former District Officer Found Dead in Rental Room
A 43-year-old former deputy district chief was found dead in a sealed rental room in Phayao Province, with police suspecting suicide linked to charges he faced for forging 467 government identity documents.
At 11:00 a.m. on August 4, police received a report of a death in a rental room in Chiang Kham District, Phayao Province. Officers, rescue workers, and a duty physician responded to the scene and found the room locked from the inside. After breaking down the door, they discovered the body of Sitthichai, age 43, a former deputy district chief of Chiang Khong District in Chiang Rai Province, who had faced charges for forging 467 government identity documents.
The deceased was found lying on the floor beside a bed with his feet resting on the bed edge. Tape was discovered sealing the entrance and kitchen door. Officers also found three telephone numbers written and placed on a table near a stove. No signs of physical assault were found in the surrounding area.
According to investigating officer Pol. Maj. Thanad Chumamanao, the room showed no signs of a struggle, and both entry and exit doors were sealed with tape. The room owner reported that the deceased had spoken by phone with his mother before his voice changed, and later when the mother called back and received no answer, she contacted the landlord, who discovered the body. Police believe the stress stemming from the forgery case involving over 467 forged identity documents, combined with his dismissal from civil service, may have been the cause. Further investigation with relevant parties is planned.
