Officers arrested Chaiyot Weerachue, 37, at a house in Ratsada at about 8:10pm after tracking his movement from the scene, in front of a hotel on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd in Patong.
Chaiyot first fled to Chalong, where he disposed of the knife used in the attack. Police then tracked Chaiyot’s movements to Phuket Town, then to Ratsada, where he was arrested.
CCTV confirmed the incident happened at 1:23pm, police said.
Chaiyot chased fellow hotel staffer Anuwat Meetham, 33, to an area in front of the hotel, where Chaiyot pulled out a knife and slashed Anuwat’s throat before fleeing on his motorbike, police reported.
When police searched the house in Ratsada, no knife was found. Chaiyot later confessed that he had disposed of the knife in Chalong, and showed officers where he threw it, police reported.
Police noted that during questioning Chaiyot said that he and Mr Anuwat had a long, ongoing conflict. However, no reason was given for the final altercation that led to him slashing Mr Anuwat’s throat.
At last report Mr Anuwat remained in care at Patong Hospital.
Police have yet to confirm which charge Chaiyot is to face.