TAIPEI, Taiwan – A 36-year-old Thai woman was allegedly strangled by her Taiwanese boyfriend after she told him she wanted to end their relationship, according to Taiwanese police and local media reports. The woman, identified by Taiwanese media by the nickname “Ashi” and reportedly known as Jeans, had travelled from Thailand to Taiwan on September 2 to meet her 43-year-old boyfriend. She was staying at a hotel on Chengdu Road in Taipei’s Ximending area and was due to return to Thailand on September 14.
Her family became concerned after being unable to contact her for several days. Relatives posted messages seeking help, and Thai people in Taiwan alerted police on September 18. Police reviewed CCTV footage from the hotel and found that the woman entered the building but was never seen leaving. Footage reportedly showed her boyfriend leaving alone while dragging a large suitcase. Police arrested the man in the early hours of September 19.
During questioning, the suspect allegedly told investigators that he travelled from Taichung to Taipei on September 12 to meet the woman. They argued about their relationship after she said she wanted to break up. He allegedly placed his hands around her neck, causing her death. He then allegedly put her body inside a large black suitcase and dragged it out of the hotel early on September 13. He reportedly loaded the suitcase into a car and drove about 150 kilometres from Taipei to Taichung.
Police said the suspect allegedly hid the body inside a chest freezer at the technology company where he worked. When colleagues asked about the freezer, he reportedly claimed it was being prepared to store ingredients for a barbecue during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival on September 25. The body allegedly remained at the office for about six days until the suspect was arrested.
Police reportedly suspect the killing may have involved prior planning, although no conclusion has been reached. The 43-year-old man has been charged with murder and remanded in custody while the investigation continues. An autopsy is scheduled for next week to officially establish the cause and circumstances of death.
The woman, from Naimueang subdistrict in Phimai district, Nakhon Ratchasima, was reportedly the only child in her family. Both parents had died, although she remained in contact with cousins who supported one another. She had previously worked in South Korea for more than a decade before returning to Thailand about a year ago. Relatives said she had told them she was dating a foreigner, but they had never met him and had never seen a photograph showing the couple together.
