Police are searching for two men who killed a motorcycle taxi driver in a cassava field in Banglamung.
The body of 30-year-old Vichien Wongprasert was found early Feb. 7 shot once in the face in a field off Nongketyai Soi 1, 500 meters from Highway 36. Robbery did not appear to be a motive, as the victim still had 80 baht cash and an Apple iPhone on him.
Vichan’s father, Serm Rungruang, 56, said his son had been working as a motorcycle taxi driver in front of Rungruang Tour in North Pattaya since his release from prison in December 2011. Police said he’d been jailed for five years on a robbery conviction.
A witness reported that the victim had been seen late the night before talking with two men, while three women sat on motorbikes nearby. The witness then heard three gunshots and found the body the next morning.
Police had scant evidence to go on, as no shell casings or other evidence was left at the scene. A motorbike found near the victim was registered to Thawat Jongariyatrakul, 32, of Banglamung, but the victim may have been riding someone else’s bike.
Police speculated that the ex-convict was still involved with criminal figures who shot him in a disagreement over drugs or money.
