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Published on November 28, 2007

Pongsapat referred to the autopsy report by coroner Pol Colonel Somboon Tantrakool on the body of Tomoko Kawashita, which was found at 1pm on Sunday in the northern province.

Kawashita, 27, had gone to Sukhothai, 650 km north of Bangkok, to attend the Loy Kratong festival.

Pongsapat said there may have been more than one culprit in the murder, but expected a suspect or suspects would be arrested within the next few days. He quoted provincial police chief Major General Sirin Phadungchewit, who said a 20-strong police team made up of officers from the Central Investigation Bureau and Crime Suppression Division had been set up yesterday to work on the case with Sukhothai police.

The victim's parents, Yasuaki and Eko Kawashita, and her older brother claimed her body at the Police General Hospital yesterday. They later went to Sukhothai to discuss the progress of the investigation with local police.

Both said they felt sorrow over their daughter's death but harboured no ill feelings towards Thailand and Thai people.

They said their daughter Tomoko had originally planned to travel to Thailand with her boyfriend but eventually came here alone.

Her body will be sent back to Japan.

During yesterday's Cabinet meeting Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont extended his condolences, on behalf of the Thai people, to the Kawashita family and to the Japanese people.

The Nation