Thailand: Woman Kills Friend, Steals $2K to Settle Gambling Debt

A crippling gambling addiction can bring more than financial harm. People suffering from problem gambling can engage in unlawful activities. While fraud, scams or theft are by no means minor crimes, some people, pushed by gambling debt may even consider murder or robberies. In one such criminal case from Thailand, a 65-year-old woman was killed by one of her friends, who was suffering from problem gambling.

Suspected Murderer Faces Tough Penalty After Gambling-Related Killing

As announced by Khaosod English, a 57-year-old woman, identified with the initials K.W., murdered and robbed one of her friends, a 65-year-old wealthy woman identified with the initials W.K. The crime occurred last week with the attacker repeatedly hitting the victim, severing her fingers to collect jewelry and then selling it to settle a gambling debt.

The lifeless body of the 65-year-old victim was found in a palm plantation in the Wang Chan district, Rayong. All of the victim’s jewelry was stolen, she was repeatedly beaten with a blunt object and had fingers missing, cut by the attacker.

Immediately, law enforcement initiated an investigation into the brutal crime. The 57-year-old suspect was initially questioned by police but denied knowing anything about the murder. Further investigation led the police precisely to the same suspect as DNA from a fingernail of the victim tied the 57-year-old to the crime.

Not unexpectedly, the suspect was arrested. Her partner, a German resident, was also questioned on suspicion of participating in the murder. However, the attacker’s husband’s story checked out as he was able to prove that at the time of the murder, he was motorcycle riding with friends.

The suspect, if found guilty may face a tough penalty. In Thailand, international murder is subject to life imprisonment, a minimum of 15 to 20 years in prison or in some cases, the death penalty.

The Victim Was Killed over $2,300

On Monday this week, law enforcement escorted the suspect to the site of the November 15 murder for a reenactment. There, the suspect reportedly helped recover an iron bar that she allegedly used to kill her wealthy friend. The 57-year-old woman allegedly admitted to the attack, explaining how she used the iron bar to hit the victim in the head before taking her golden jewelry.

The attacker admitted that she was pushed into the crime by a gambling debt. After murdering her friend and stealing her jewelry, the attacker went to a Ban Bueng market. There, she sold the jewelry of the victim for 80,000 baht or approximately $2,300 which was then used to settle gambling debts.