Police are investigating the death of Natthawee Sukantharun, better known as “Coach Nat,” a former Thai national tennis and beach-tennis player who was found dead at his home in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, on Sunday.
Police said the 64-year-old sustained knife wounds to both arms and showed signs of strangulation. Investigators reported evidence of a struggle in the bedroom and recovered a sharp knife at the scene.
Police have questioned several of Natthawee’s close associates, including a 22-year-old Lao national who had lived with the Pattaya-based coach for three years.
Investigators suspected a personal dispute may have been behind his death, citing conflicts involving people close to him.
Senior officers held a meeting at Nongprue police station in Bang Lamung on Monday afternoon. Following the meeting, Pol Maj Gen Chokchai Ngamwong, deputy commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 2, said officers were still treating some persons of interest as witnesses while narrowing a list of suspects.
Authorities wre exploring several possible motives, including personal conflict and robbery. Detectives also reported that a tablet was used to transfer 30,000 baht from the victim’s bank account to a Myanmar national at about 4am on Sunday, around the likely time of the killing.
The recipient, identified as “Tek,” had resigned from work at the victim’s badminton court roughly a week earlier, Pol Maj Gen Chokchai said.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and further details will be released as inquiries progress.
