Myanmar Fisherman Arrested After Knife Attack on Crewmate Off Koh Phangan
A 29-year-old Myanmar fisherman has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing a fellow crew member and slashing his throat aboard a fishing boat off Koh Phangan in Surat Thani. After the attack, the suspect went over the side and tried to swim away.
Rescue operation at sea
The attack took place on Saturday, October 17, around 7.43 nautical miles from the island. The Marine Police Division of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) launched a rescue operation. Officers who responded to the emergency found the suspect, identified as San, in the water beside the fishing vessel and detained him.
Police said Koh Samui marine police received a distress call from the boat reporting that a crew member had been seriously hurt in a fight. Officers on patrol boat 641 went to the scene and found the victim, a Myanmar national named Tan, lying at the stern and bleeding heavily. Tan had a slash wound to the neck and stab wounds to his right shoulder, left arm and back, and he was struggling to breathe when rescuers reached him.
What witnesses reported
Through an interpreter, witnesses told police that they had been working near the bow when they heard an argument at the back of the vessel. When they went to check, they allegedly saw San attacking Tan with a knife. Another crew member who tried to step in was also assaulted, according to the police account.
During the struggle, San reportedly fell into the sea while still holding the knife and tried to swim away. The boat's captain contacted the police for help. Officers secured the scene and gave first aid to the injured fisherman.
Arrest and charges
Tan was taken to Koh Samui Hospital for treatment. San was taken into custody and handed over to investigators at Koh Phangan Police Station. He faces an attempted murder charge under Sections 288 and 80 of Thailand's Criminal Code.
Police have not said what caused the argument and have not released an update on Tan's condition since he was admitted to hospital.