The arrest followed a more than 10-day manhunt after the death of the victim, identified by police as ‘Mr Khawe’, a Myanmar national.
According to Chalong Police, the victim’s mother filed a complaint on May 30 after her son died from stab wounds sustained the previous night.
Police said that at about 10:30pm on May 29, Mr Khawe returned home seriously injured and told family members that another Myanmar national, identified as ‘Mr Aung Thu’, had stabbed him.
The family called an ambulance and the victim was first taken to Chalong Hospital before being transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The victim’s mother told police she did not know where the stabbing had taken place or what had prompted the attack.
Investigators subsequently inspected a workers’ camp in Rawai where those involved were living. Although officers initially found no direct witnesses and were unable to determine the exact location of the stabbing, their investigation revealed that the suspect had fled the area following the incident.
Police continued tracking the suspect and eventually learned that he had escaped to Phatthalung province.
Officers arrested the suspect on June 10 and brought him back to Phuket for questioning.
During initial interrogation, the suspect allegedly confessed to the stabbing and told investigators that he acted out of jealousy, believing the victim had been communicating flirtatiously with his girlfriend.
Following the arrest, officers took the suspect to Chalong Police Station for legal proceedings and conducted a crime reenactment as part of the investigation.
Police said the reenactment and confession would form part of the evidence presented during the prosecution of the case.