Nakhon Si Thammarat: The family of 'Grandma Nil' held a ceremony to invite her spirit and receive her body for religious rites after she was tragically killed and hidden in a sack by a motorcycle taxi driver known as 'Tia'.
According to Thai News Agency, the 89-year-old victim, Ms. Nunil or Grandma Nil, was strangled and her body was disposed of in a sack along Thet Phrakiat Road. The perpetrator was identified as Mr. Charoen, also known as Tia, a 55-year-old motorcycle taxi driver who had frequently provided services to Grandma Nil for several years. CCTV footage captured her last moments with Tia on May 9, as she withdrew 10,000 baht from an ATM. Her body was discovered three days later on May 12. Missing from her possessions were nearly 300,000 baht worth of property including a gold necklace, a gold ring, and cash.
Police investigations traced Tia to Na Muang sub-district in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province. On May 13, detectives apprehended him after he attempted to flee into the wetlands. Tia confessed that greed drove him to rob Grandma Nil after noticing her cash and gold. Fearing exposure, he killed her to prevent her from reporting him. He then sold part of the stolen gold in Koh Samui, spending the proceeds and distributing some among his children, while keeping a significant amount for himself.
Authorities charged Tia with intentional murder, robbery resulting in death, and concealment of a body. He was transported to Nakhon Si Thammarat City Police Station.
Grandma Nil's family conducted a spirit-inviting ceremony, adhering to their beliefs, before transferring her body to Wat Suan Luang for religious rites. The atmosphere was somber as they mourned her loss.
Additionally, a friend of Tia's provided an audio recording in which Tia threatened him with violence for assisting the police in their investigation, further incriminating him in the case.