Family members of the victim who was killed by a Swiss national in Udon Thani on Sunday revealed their side of the story yesterday, October 5th, claiming that the victim was reportedly killed for having an affair.
Sathien Chantarakhantri, 53, was found dead with his legs and armed tied at the house of a 63-year-old Swiss national, Rudolf Joseph Rothy, in Mueang Udon Thani district on Sunday around midnight. Rudolf, who was present at the scene with his Thai wife, whose name was withheld by law enforcement, allegedly confessed to killing the man, stating that Sathien had been threatening him with a firearm for money and that his actions were taken in self-defense after Sathien intruded upon his property. Rudolf claims he tied the man up as he was afraid Sathien would recover and attack him and his family.
The Swiss house owner was initially charged for assaulting others to death while the deceased was also charged for trespassing at night, carrying a firearm in public, and attempted murder.
However, family members of the deceased told local reporters yesterday that they did not believe Rudolf’s allegations that Sathien was breaking into his house for money as he did not have any money problems and often offered money to Rudolf’s Thai wife from time to time. Instead, the family members claimed the incident was about an alleged affair between Sathien and Rudolf’s wife.
PHOTO: Sanook
Sathien’s uncle, Thaworn Phumphet, 65, told local Thai reporters that Sathien had once had a wife and children but they divorced because he was in a secret relationship with the foreigner’s wife. Regarding the gun, Thaworn said that the deceased bought the firearm legally about a year ago as a registered second-hand gun.
Sathien’s mother, Khan Chantarakhantri, told the Thai press that her son was secretly having a relationship with Rudolf’s wife for 2-3 years. The reason he went inside the house was that the wife was reportedly calling him. However, Sathien instead confronted the foreigner before there was a quarrel and subsequent physical altercation.
“The autopsy concluded that he died of a liver rupture. He might have been beaten to death. Please be just and don’t say that my son went to rob the foreigner. It ruins our family reputation,” she added.
Multiple Thai media sources noted that Sathien had recently just sold some land and had come into a decent amount of money as a result, raising questions as to why he would be potentially robbing anyone for additional funds. Rudolf was approached by reporters to be given an opportunity to respond to the statements from the Thai family yesterday evening but refused to speak to the press, according to local media reports.
According to Udon Thani police, the court system will take into effect statements from all parties involved as part of their investigation and that police continue to gather evidence around the incident.
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