There is still no sign of Kamala resident Mr Slabinskiy, who was reported missing last week along with his girlfriend Yana Strizheus, feared kidnapped and dead after a series of strange phone calls to relatives back home.
The couple claimed they were in trouble in Phuket and urgently needed US$100,000 (B3.2 million) to sort out their problem.
Ms Strizheus was discovered by a maid on Sunday (March 16) in a room at the Blue Garden hotel in Thalang, with injuries to her wrist and neck. She is now in Vachira Hospital being treated.
Today (March 19) police will ask the court to issue arrest warrants for two men believed to be involved. They have named them as Alexander Novichkov and Oleksandr Boychuk, also known as "Andrey".
Last night (March 18) at a meeting between Phuket’s top police to discuss the Russian case, officers said they now believe they are dealing with a serious kidnapping case.
They said there is also a third man believed to involved in the case – possibly acting as the ringleader. They have not yet identified him, but believe he may already have left Thailand.
This is despite Phuket’s top cop, Maj Gen Ong-art Piewreungnon, saying yesterday he was 90 per cent sure that the case was not a kidnapping, and was instead related to personal problems between the couple. There have also been suggestions it was a scam by the couple.
Last night’s meeting was told that after being found, Ms Strizheus initially refused to speak but is now doing so, and has convinced investigators that this is a genuine kidnapping case.