27-9-2024 (BANGKOK) The last remaining suspect in the gruesome Pattaya ‘barrel murder’ case has been apprehended in Vietnam and extradited to South Korea, bringing a four-month international manhunt to a close.
South Korean authorities confirmed on Tuesday that the suspect, a man in his 30s whose identity remains undisclosed, was arrested by Vietnamese police on 12 September. The capture came as a result of a coordinated effort between South Korean and Vietnamese law enforcement agencies, with South Korean officers travelling to Vietnam to assist in the operation.
The case, which has captivated public attention since May, involves the brutal murder of Roh Eui-jong in Pattaya, Thailand. The victim’s body was discovered stuffed inside a plastic barrel that had been dumped in the Map Prachan reservoir in Bang Lamung district, near the popular tourist destination of Pattaya.
Thai authorities had previously identified the now-captured suspect as Kim Hyeong-won, believed to have fled to Myanmar following the murder. His arrest marks the culmination of an extensive international investigation that spanned several Southeast Asian countries.
Two other suspects in the case, Lee Roun and Lee Yong-jin, aged in their 20s, were apprehended earlier and have already been extradited to South Korea. They are currently standing trial in a South Korean court for their alleged involvement in the murder.
The motive behind this shocking crime remains shrouded in mystery, with investigators yet to disclose any potential reasons for the killing. The case has raised questions about transnational crime and the challenges of pursuing suspects across borders.
