DON Mueang Airport police arrested 2 Israeli men suspected to have brutally killed a fellow Israeli tourist and seriously wounded his companion at Bophut Beach on Koh Samui just as they were about the leave the country, Thai News Agency reported this morning (Jan. 22).
Police said the suspects have confessed to have been hired by someone overseas to hit this couple.
Police added that the suspects drove a vehicle and hit the Israeli couple in front Samui International Hospital and then chased them and hit them again. After that they got out of the vehicle and used a knife to stab the man, identified as Mr Maor Malil, 34, many times in the chest leading to him later dying. The Israeli woman, identified Miss Rachael Osana, 31, was seriously wounded.
They then drove and parked their vehicle in front of a housing estate 3 kilometers away from the scene of the crime and fled the island.
A check showed that one of the two Israeli suspects had cuts on his hands and body suspected to have occurred through the fight during the murder.
A high-level source at Immigration Bureau later revealed that the suspects are now in the custody of Tourist Police and are being sent back to Surat Thani province as the court there has issued warrants for their arrest.
He added that during the questioning last night the 2 suspects refused to answer questions in English.
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Top: The 2 Israeli tourists who were arrested at Don Mueang Airport last night. Photo: Thai News Agency
In-text: Cuts on the hand of one of the two suspects. Photo: Thai News Agency