Murder in Phuket: Tour guide cruelly suffocated – suspect caught!

Murder in Phuket: Tour guide cruelly suffocated – suspect caught!

On November 10, 2025 at 7:20 p.m., R.T. Sumeth Petchruen, Phuket police's deputy head of investigations, received a worrying tip about a suspicious vehicle. The gray Nissan Sunny with registration number กง 5311 Phuket was parked in an abandoned house in Sri Suchart Grand View Village 2, on Thepkrasattri Road in Rassada. More and more details are coming to light after the body of a 56-year-old woman, N.S., was found inside the vehicle. Orathai, also known as Gaid Klangpong, was found.

The deceased woman worked as a tour guide and held the deputy position in the Andaman Tour Guide Association. But her life ended tragically: she had been missing since November 7, 2025. Upon investigation, police found the woman's body to be in an advanced state of decomposition, with visible signs of a struggle inside the vehicle. The shocked people around them ask themselves how this terrible night could have happened.

The suspect and the confession

Police quickly identified a suspect: Jirasak Yodbam, 43, was arrested after he confessed in a statement to killing Orathai and stealing her car. According to his own account, he met the woman on November 7th in a shopping center. There was a heated argument in the vehicle during which he suffocated the woman. After the crime, he took some valuables, including a gold chain and an Apple Watch, and sold the chain for 43,000 baht to pay off his debts.

Police eventually became aware of the vehicle and the dire condition of the body as Jirasak attempted to pull himself out of the noose. Now he faces serious charges: murder and robbery.

The security situation in Phuket

This tragic story highlights the overall security situation in Phuket. Despite moderate levels of concern among residents and a slight increase in crime and corruption, many feel a positive sense of security, especially during the day. In the evening this feeling decreases somewhat, but remains positive overall. Property crime is on the list of concerns but is less acute than in other cities, while drug problems and violent crime are considered less worrisome.

Police and the community are concerned about the incidents and recognize the need to fight corruption and maintain the current low rates of property and violent crime. In general, Phuket is a relatively safe city with a charming, touristy flair, even if there are always frightening individual cases. The situation remains closely in the focus of authorities and the public.

Overall, despite recent events, Phuket has a reputation as a safe haven as air quality and waste management are relatively good, although there are always challenges. But how do residents deal with the emerging crises? It remains to be seen how crime rates will develop and what measures will be taken to reinforce adopted prevention strategies.