At 4:40pm yesterday (Oct 11,) Capt Suchart Tongyai of the Phuket City Police received a report of an alleged suicide on Soi Srisuchart View close to the PTT petrol station on the bypass road.
Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find a Phuket-registered Toyota Vigo parked in the street with the body of the man in the bed of the truck together with a .38 pistol still loaded with five bullets.
Near the man’s foot was a black envelope with documents inside including a letter referring to the man’s children, health and personal problems along with the man’s ID card identifying him as Sombat Srisaenchat, 59.
Mr Sombat had two wounds to the head.
Officers confirmed there were no signs of an attack in the nearby area or on Mr Sombat’s body.
From their initial investigation, police found that Mr Sombat’s brother was the owner of a well-known transportation company in Phuket and that he managed the company.
Mr Sombat’s nephew and staff from the transportation company told police that Mr Sombat drove his pickup truck to work as usual yesterday morning. Just before midday he came out from the transportation company and went to his plantation located on Soi Srisuchart View where his body was discovered.
Police believe that Mr Sombat shot himself due to personal and health problems. However, they will investigate further to find the true cause.
The Phuket News notes that there is a “One Stop Crisis Centre” at each government hospital on the island that can help people cope with emotional distress. Thai speakers can call the 1300 help hotline.