04/07/2026 16:07 - Internacionales
According to The Guardian, the Thai city of Pattaya, located two hours from Bangkok and famous for its intense nightlife, has been the scene of two shocking criminal cases in the first days of July 2026 that have captured international attention.
On July 4, 2026, local media such as the Bangkok Post reported the arrest of a 21-year-old British woman following the alleged murder of her 34-year-old boyfriend, who operated a cannabis farm. Officers found the man's body in the bathroom of a luxury rental house in the Pattaya area, with multiple stab wounds. It is estimated that the victim had been dead for six hours at the time of discovery.
The young woman, who had reddish hair and was found sitting near the body, initially claimed her partner had injured himself. However, investigators noticed inconsistencies in her story. A 50-centimeter (20 inches) machete-like knife was found washed in the sink, and the scene showed bloodstains and signs of a struggle scattered throughout the house.
Legal Context: In 2022, Thailand became the first Asian country to legalize cannabis, which led to a proliferation of shops. Although laws restricting its recreational use were introduced in 2025, its sale remains widespread in the region.
Simultaneously, a report published by The Guardian on July 3, 2026 focused on the case of Simon Peter Carman, a foreigner accused of the murder of Thunchanok Donhomla, a 17-year-old Thai girl from the impoverished province of Kalasin.
According to the police, on June 25, 2026, security cameras captured Donhomla taking an elevator holding hands with Carman at his apartment complex in Jomtien, three kilometers from central Pattaya. The next day, her naked body was found inside a suitcase abandoned in the brush near train tracks. Carman, who claimed to have acted in self-defense, was charged with murder, concealing a corpse, and taking a minor for sexual purposes.
Pattaya, which historically served as a rest and recreation spot for U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam War, is trying to reinvent itself as a family destination. However, prostitution, although illegal, operates openly. It is estimated that there are about 60,000 sex workers in the city.
Organizations like the Manushya Foundation have denounced that Thai sex workers suffer homicide rates 17 times higher than the female average. Experts warn that poverty and tourist demand perpetuate the exploitation of minors, allowing it to go unnoticed in a normalized commercial market.
Sources: The Guardian, Bangkok Post (July 2026)
Alfredo S. Quiroga
