A Myanmar fisherman has been arrested for allegedly stabbing and slashing a fellow crew member’s throat aboard a fishing boat off Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, before falling overboard and attempting to escape through the water.
The stabbing occurred on Saturday, October 17, approximately 7.43 nautical miles from the island, prompting a rescue operation by the Marine Police Division of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
The suspect, identified as 29 year old San, was detained after officers responding to the emergency found him in the sea beside the fishing vessel.
According to the CIB, Koh Samui marine police received a distress call from the boat reporting that a crew member had been seriously injured during an altercation.
Officers aboard patrol boat 641 travelled to the scene, where they found the victim, a Myanmar national identified as Tan, lying at the stern with severe bleeding.
The fisherman had suffered a slash wound to his neck and stab wounds to his right shoulder, left arm and back. He was struggling to breathe when rescuers arrived.
Witnesses told police through an interpreter that the crew had been working near the bow when they heard an argument towards the rear of the vessel.
When they went to investigate, they allegedly saw San attacking Tan with a knife. Another crew member attempted to intervene but was also assaulted, according to the police account.
During the confrontation, San reportedly fell overboard and tried to swim away while holding the knife.
The boat’s captain contacted police for assistance, prompting officers to secure the scene and provide emergency first aid to the injured fisherman.
Tan was transferred to Koh Samui Hospital for treatment, while San was taken into custody and handed over to investigators at Koh Phangan Police Station.
The suspect faces an attempted murder charge under Sections 288 and 80 of Thailand’s Criminal Code.
Police have not disclosed what caused the argument or provided an update on the victim’s condition following his admission to hospital.
In related news:
- Fishing boat captain allegedly stabbed to death off Samut Songkhram
- Burmese man stabs 4 Thais after being rejected by woman in Koh Pha Ngan
- Myanmar man arrested over compatriot’s fatal stabbing in Bang Lamung
The story Koh Phangan crewman held after stabbing colleague at sea as seen on Thaiger News.