Human remains discovered in a deserted area of Chachoengsao are believed to belong to a missing Chinese woman, who was reportedly kidnapped for ransom in Bangkok nearly two weeks ago, according to police.
A search team led by Pol Maj Gen Noppasil Poolsawat, deputy chief of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), inspected the abandoned site near a housing estate in tambon Bang Phra of Muang district in the eastern province around noon on Saturday.
They discovered a skeleton, including human legs, which they believe could belong to Yan Ruimin, 38.
Investigators are coordinating with forensic officers to conduct DNA tests on the body parts.
Authorities initiated the search after Chinese national Cai Boxuan reported to police at the Bang Rak station in Bangkok on Friday that his friend Ms. Yan was missing.
The last contact he had with her was on June 30, when she informed him that she would go to Phuket on July 2. He expressed concern that she might be in danger.
According to a police source, Ms. Yan’s relatives became worried after not hearing from her for some time, prompting them to come to Thailand and seek assistance from the Chinese embassy. A suspect subsequently contacted them, demanding a ransom of 1 million yuan (5 million baht) for Ms. Yan’s release.
The suspect, identified as Ma Qingyan, was found to have rented a car in Bangkok on June 30.
On July 1, Ms. Yan was seen getting into the car at Times Square near Sukhumvit Soi 12, with security camera footage showing the car heading to Sukhumvit Soi 16. Later that evening, security cameras captured the Honda with the suspect and Ms. Yan inside, traveling on Rama IV Road.
The following day, the car left the Sukhumvit 16 address and headed to Chon Buri.
Around 2 a.m. on July 3, the car was seen in Chachoengsao before Ms. Yan’s phone signal went off near a public park close to Wat Sothon Wararam Worawihan in Muang district.
Ma checked out of his Bangkok hotel later that day and flew to Hong Kong, according to the source.
Police reviewed video footage from closed-circuit TV cameras along the route to Chachoengsao, focusing on locations where the rental car had stopped.
Local media reported that a check of the car’s GPS showed it traveled to a fish farm in Muang district. Police discovered a piece of burned luggage, believed to belong to the missing woman, in tambon Bang Phra. The search ultimately led them to the site where they found the body parts.
