Consular assistance was being provided to the family of a South African man whose bullet-riddled body was found north of Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok.
International relations spokesman Clayson Monyela said on Wednesday (03/10/2012) the brother of Oswald Heinrich Duvel had arrived in Thailand to deal with the death.
Monyela could not provide any further details.
According to Thai media reports, Duvel’s body was dumped next to a grave police believe was intended for him.
The Thai Daily News said police had recovered his Chevrolet bakkie.
Duvel’s body was reportedly discovered in the foothills of Saraburi province, north of Bangkok, on Sunday morning.
The Thai Rath newspaper website reported that Duvel, who was shot three times, was found wearing only his watch and a pair of blue underpants.
Both newspapers reported that a partially dug grave was found near the body.
The Pattaya Daily News reported that police believed those who dug the grave fled because they might have been spooked by a passerby.
The Thai Rath newspaper reported that police believed he was killed about 10 hours before his body was discovered.
The website of the Manager Media group published a photograph of Duvel and a copy of his South African passport.
Several reports indicated that the 50-year old Duvel went missing after leaving his home in Bangkok to visit his three-year-old son at the home of his ex-wife.
Monyela said he did not have the family’s permission for any other details. - Sapa
