Four Myanmar nationals, two men and two women, have surrendered to Thai authorities after allegedly killing a Chinese businessman in Bangkok over a wage dispute, Thai media reported on Thursday.

The four had been hiding in a sugarcane field in Phanat Nikhom district of Chonburi province after fleeing the scene of the killing in Bangkok’s Lat Krabang area.

More than 100 police officers and other personnel joined a search operation in the field, which covers more than 100 acres, early on October 29. Thai authorities sealed off the area to prevent the suspects from escaping and deployed thermal-imaging drones to detect movement inside the dense plantation.

After nearly five hours of searching, the four emerged from the field and surrendered to rescue workers stationed nearby, according to Thai media reports.

two Myanmar couples allegedly assaulted them at a construction site in Song Thong Nun, Lat Krabang district, Bangkok, over unpaid wages, according to a police statement / Collecetd 

A rescue worker said the group’s appearance matched the descriptions of the suspects being sought by police. When questioned, they reportedly admitted to killing their Chinese employer before fleeing the area.

The four were exhausted and thirsty after spending an extended period hiding in the field. They reportedly asked rescue workers for drinking water and food before giving themselves up.

According to Khit Thit Media, the four Myanmar nationals had been accused of beating the Chinese employer to death following a dispute involving unpaid or exploited wages. The precise circumstances of the dispute and the sequence of events leading to the killing remain subject to police investigation.

The case has drawn attention to the vulnerability of migrant workers in Thailand, where many Myanmar nationals depend on employment for their livelihoods while facing barriers to protecting their rights. Wage disputes can leave workers in precarious situations, although the allegations in this case have yet to be fully established through the legal process.

All four suspects were wanted under arrest warrants issued by the Min Buri Court, Thai media reported. Authorities read the warrants to them before taking them into custody and transferring them to Lat Krabang Police Station for further investigation.

Thai police are continuing to investigate the alleged killing, including the circumstances of the wage dispute and the individual roles of the four suspects. Their guilt will ultimately be determined through the judicial process.

 

 

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