Officers arrested Chaeree Pantoh, 33, at a friend’s rented house near Baan Samkong School, Chalong Police Chief Col Ekkarat Plaiduang confirmed.
Considering the nature of the attack, Phuket Provincial Police Chief Pol Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong ordered officers to expedite their investigation and to track down the suspect as quickly as possible.
Two teams of officers were assigned the case, with one team to gather the evidence required and obtain an arrest warrant, the other to track down the suspect, Pol Col Ekkarat explained.
The incident occurred at 11:20pm on Tuesday, he said.
The victim was a salesperson at a pharmacy, he added.
The culprit drove up on a motorbike, splashed acid onto the victim then fled on the motorbike, he explained.
Chaeree then sought medical attention at a hospital in Phuket Town before seeking refuge at a friend’s place in Samkong, where officers arrested him, Pol Col Ekkarat said.
Chaeree has been charged with assault causing serious harm, Pol Col Ekkkarat confirmed.
A friend of the victim told reporters today that Chaeree and the victim were not lovers, and never had been.
The victim was the object of Chaeree’s desire. The feelings were not reciprocated.
“The two of them aren’t lovers. They were just friends from the same district. Only he thought they were seeing each other,” the friend said.
“The victim once told me that this man had a jealous, overthinking temperament,” she added.
“I feel very bad about what happened to my friend. This man is very selfish. Even when they ate noodles required [my friend] to pay for it. She helped him with everything.
“This man is terrible… My friend is a beautiful person and has a good personality, and my friend had acide splashed all over her because of him," she said.