CNA reported that on the morning of July 17, Thai police held a press conference, announcing that the death of 6 people in a hotel room in Bangkok , including 4 Vietnamese, was a case of murder and suicide by poisoning.
Traces of cyanide were found on cups and flasks in room 502 of the hotel, where the bodies were discovered, police said. According to forensic sources, this is a very strong and extremely dangerous poison.
“We confirm that one of the six dead caused this incident by using cyanide,” said Noppasil Poonsawas, deputy investigation commander at the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Department.
Police later identified the suspect who poisoned and murdered this group of people as Ms. Sherine Chong, 56 years old, holding an American passport, a member of the group. Ms. Chong has entered and exited Thailand 5 times, the most recent entry being on July 5.
Police added that interviews with relatives of those who died showed there was a dispute over debt.
Six people were found dead in room 502 of the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel on the afternoon of July 16. Two of these people have American passports.
Group of 6 people checked in on July 15. Their bodies were all found in room 502 on the afternoon of July 16, with no signs of a fight.
Plates of leftover food ordered from room service remained on the table. Some plates were still wrapped in plastic wrap.
On July 17, 2024, answering reporters' questions regarding the incident of 6 people dying at a hotel in Bangkok, Thailand on the evening of July 16, 2024, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Thu Hang said:
According to the latest information from the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand, Thai authorities said 4 of the 6 people who died were Vietnamese citizens.
Implementing the instructions of the leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand continues to coordinate closely with local authorities, closely monitor and clarify the cause of the incident, and provide information. necessary to serve the investigation, coordinate with domestic authorities to notify the victim's family and guide post-mortem procedures as well as deploy necessary citizen protection measures.
At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is urgently coordinating with the Ministry of Public Security to verify the identities of the above victims.
