The sudden death of a 27-year-old Thai traveller and YouTuber has sent shockwaves through Thailand, leaving his followers and the wider public searching for answers.
The case has prompted growing calls for a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation to establish the facts and maintain public confidence.
Bawornthat "Hlun Solo" Pengsuk, a native of Kalasin, went missing in Georgia on July 13. His body was reportedly found in a hotel room in Tbilisi on July 14, but Thai authorities and his family were not informed until more than two weeks later.
As one of his followers, I was among those searching for updates, only to find more questions than answers.
More concerning are reports that Georgian authorities may classify the case under Article 115 of Georgia's Criminal Code, treating the death as a suicide and effectively closing the investigation.
Personally, I find it difficult to identify any obvious motive that would have led him to take his own life.
He appeared to enjoy his work, had ambitious plans to travel the world and remained devoted to supporting and caring for his grandmother.
If these reports are accurate, Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs should not accept such a conclusion without careful scrutiny.
Instead, it should urge Georgian authorities to conduct a formal, transparent and comprehensive investigation.
Hlun's family also has every right to seek a full examination of the circumstances surrounding his death.
Several aspects of the case warrant closer scrutiny.
The first is why Georgian authorities waited until July 29 to disclose that Hlun's body had been found, despite reports that hotel staff discovered it on July 14.
If his passport and personal belongings remained at the scene, it is unclear why the Thai Embassy in Türkiye was not notified promptly so his identity could be confirmed and his family informed.
Equally important is what investigative work was carried out during the two-week period before the case became public.
Did investigators interview hotel staff and tour guides, review CCTV footage, examine Hlun's communications and movements before his death, or identify and question those who had recently been in contact with him? Were other relevant lines of inquiry pursued?
Perhaps the most critical issue is the extent of the forensic examination.
Were hair samples, bodily fluids, toxic substances or other physical evidence collected from the hotel room?
Did forensic specialists process the scene and preserve potential evidence in accordance with standard procedures?
More than two weeks have now passed, meaning some forensic evidence may have deteriorated or been lost, making it harder to establish exactly what happened.
Nevertheless, a proper forensic investigation remains preferable to no investigation at all. Any remaining evidence could still help clarify the circumstances of Hlun's death and ensure that every reasonable lead is examined.
These questions matter because only a thorough investigation can establish a reliable timeline of events and determine whether any individuals or circumstances contributed to the young man's death.
As news of Hlun's death spread across social media, several media outlets and YouTube commentators revisited other recent cases involving foreign nationals who died in Tbilisi, prompting renewed discussion about visitor safety in Georgia.
In late May, an Indian medical student disappeared for more than two weeks before his body was found in the Mtkvari River in central Tbilisi.
In late July, a Russian man reportedly lost contact with his family for about two weeks before he was found dead inside an apartment in the Georgian capital.
The causes of death in those cases have not been publicly confirmed. Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding Hlun's death remain under investigation.
The Georgian government should ensure that its law enforcement agencies conduct a thorough, transparent and credible investigation.
Doing so is essential not only to establish the facts but also to preserve confidence in Georgia's reputation as a welcoming destination for visitors from around the world.
This is particularly important for Thai tourists, who may enter Georgia without a visa and stay for up to 365 days.
Anucha Charoenpo, PhD, is news editor of the Bangkok Post.
