The murder of a Thai transgender woman, allegedly murdered and mutilated by a Chinese tourist, has cast a harsh spotlight on the safety of sex workers and the screening of visitors arriving in Thailand.
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The body of Woranun Pannacha, 25, was discovered early on Saturday in a rented room in Pattaya, the popular coastal resort city. Her heart, silicone implants and other body parts had been removed by the suspect, whom police identified as 42-year-old Chinese welder Fu Tongyuen.
Fu was arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport while attempting to flee the country. His face bore deep scratches, apparently inflicted during a violent struggle.
“He confessed and said that he had seen a TV series and wanted to try to cut open the victim and remove the organs,” Chonburi police commander Police Major General Tawatkiat Jindakuansanong told reporters. Fu told investigators that he wanted to “play” with the corpse, Tawatkiat said.
The suspect, from Hubei province, reportedly met Woranun on Friday at a beach. The two agreed on a fee for her to visit his rented room. However, when Woranun later refused to have sex, Fu allegedly attacked and killed her.
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