PHETCHABURI, THAILAND – Thai police detained a 33-year-old Indian national after an eight-year-old boy was found dead at a home in Cha-am district on 9 November.
Body discovered in Cha-am residence
Police officers in Cha-am, Phetchaburi province entered a house on 9 November where they found the body of eight-year-old Noni O lying on a bed. According to investigators, the child had visible signs of trauma on his body.
“Foam was coming from his mouth, and his body was covered with bruises,”
said a local investigator.
Officers confirmed that only Noni O and his 33-year-old Indian stepfather, Kanthoran Singh, were inside the property at the time of the incident. The man was taken in for questioning immediately following the discovery.
Autopsy reveals internal injuries
A post-mortem examination conducted at Phra Chom Klao Hospital confirmed severe internal injuries. Doctors reported that the child suffered from brain hemorrhaging and multiple blows.
“A torn diaphragm, chest bleeding and multiple impact wounds,”
said forensic doctors at Phra Chom Klao Hospital.
Medical experts concluded that the injuries were consistent with a physical assault. Based on these findings, the provincial court issued an arrest warrant for Kanthoran Singh.
Arrest and denial
Later that same day, police arrested Singh at the same Cha-am residence. However, the suspect rejected the allegations during interrogation.
“The suspect denies all charges,”
said a police spokesperson in Phetchaburi.
Police investigators confirmed that they continued gathering additional evidence after the arrest. They stated that the evidence collected at the home and in the autopsy results pointed to a single likely perpetrator.
Pattern of domestic child abuse cases
Police officials noted that the Phetchaburi death followed a series of similar incidents involving stepfathers in Thailand. In September, a Thai man took his two-year-old stepson to a hospital with fatal internal injuries. Another case in July involved a man in Nonthaburi who admitted aggression toward his stepson.
“I only became angry because he cried,”
said the Nonthaburi suspect in July.
Police pledge stronger enforcement
Senior officers from the Royal Thai Police stated that they plan to intensify enforcement against child abuse offenders.
“We will never tolerate such crimes against children,”
said a high-ranking police official.
Authorities confirmed that Kanthoran Singh, if found guilty, faces a long prison sentence under Thai law. Meanwhile, relatives of the deceased child in Phetchaburi province prepared funeral arrangements as investigations continued.
– Date of death: 9 November
– Suspect: 33-year-old Kanthoran Singh
– Victim: eight-year-old Noni O
– Location: Cha-am district, Phetchaburi province
– Autopsy hospital: Phra Chom Klao Hospital
– Offence: suspected fatal assault leading to homicide
Police officials said that the chain of evidence suggested a conclusive link between the injuries and the suspect’s actions on that day.