Phuket City Police yesterday (Nov 11) brought the suspect, 43-year-old Phang Nga native Jirasak Yodbamrung, to reenact the crime at three key locations – the site of the murder, the gold shop where he sold the victim’s jewellery, and the place where he abandoned her car.
The reenactment was led by senior officers under the direction of Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, together with Provincial Police Deputy Commander Pol Col Akanit Danpitaksat, Phuket City Police Chief Pol Col Chatree Chukaew and Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent of Investigation Pol Lt Col Atthawat Suwannarat.
Pol Maj Gen Sinlert confirmed that evidence gathered and the suspect’s own confession clearly indicated robbery as the only motive.
“His testimony shows that the crime was committed solely to acquire property. There was no other motive,” he said.
Police said Jirasak was heavily in debt and had stolen several valuable items, including a gold necklace, two gold-framed Buddha images, a mobile phone and a red handbag. He later sold the necklace for B48,420 at a gold shop inside Lotus’s Phuket on the bypass road.
Officers are now tracing what he spent the money on over the past few days and have already recovered several stolen items, including the victim’s phones and watches.
Investigators said there is no evidence suggesting anyone else was involved.
The murder came to light after Ms Orathai was reported missing last Friday (Nov 7), having failed to return home.
CCTV footage showed her being followed to her car at Lotus’s Phuket on the bypass road by Jirasak, who then entered her vehicle and remained inside for two hours before driving away.
Police later arrested Jirasak near the Bang Khu intersection in Koh Kaew. He later confessed to strangling Ms Orathai with a rope and assaulting her, leading to her death, police reported.
Her Nissan sedan was found abandoned beside a vacant house in Soi Sri Suchat Grand View 2 in Ratsada at about 7:30pm on Monday. Her body had been concealed on the front passenger side with a floor mat.
Forensic investigators and medical examiners from Vachira Phuket Hospital attended the scene, and the body was taken for autopsy.
Pol Maj Gen Sinlert said police are now preparing the case for prosecution.
“The investigation confirms that this was a robbery case. We have gathered sufficient evidence and testimony to proceed,” he said.