Police raise charges against suspect in murder of Korean tourist in Thailand

A suspect, Lee, 24, enters a building of the Changwon District Court for questioning before the issuance of an arrest warrant in South Gyeongsang on May 15. [NEWS1]

Police on Wednesday raised charges against a suspect in the murder of a Korean tourist in Thailand from abetment of murder to robbery and murder.

The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency said the suspect was then transferred to prosecution for further investigation.

The 24-year-old suspect, surnamed Lee, was accused of kidnapping and murdering the victim with two other accomplices in Pattaya, Thailand, earlier this month. The body was discovered in a cement-filled barrel in a reservoir by Thai authorities.

Lee denied his involvement in killing the victim since the arrest was made on May 12 in North Jeolla.

With his claim, the police detained him with an arrest warrant specifying his charges as abetment to murder. The warrant was issued by the Changwon District Court in South Gyeongsang on May 15. The court considered him a flight risk.

However, a joint investigation with Thai authorities discovered evidence showing that Lee was directly involved in killing the victim. Upon the discovery, the police changed his charges.

Another accomplice who colluded in the murder, a 27-year-old man surnamed Lee, was caught in Cambodia on May 14. Korean law enforcement authorities are discussing with Thai police to find means to extradite him to his home country.

Of three suspects, one has not yet been caught. The police are currently tracking down 29-year-old Kim, the remaining suspect.

BY IM SOUNG-BIN, LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]