Farmer hacked to death and penis cut off by neighbour over property dispute

A farmer was hacked to death and his penis was cut off by his neighbour over a property dispute in Thailand.

Niwat Chuiouam, 53, was riding to a temple to fetch leftover food for his pet dogs when he was allegedly attacked along a dirt road in Kamphaeng Phet province on August 8 evening.

Niwat's wife, Patcharee, walked to the temple when her husband failed to return home but found his bloody corpse lying in the mud.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Samarn Songkhum of the Khlong Lan Police Station said police received Patcharee's report at 10:30 pm local time.

He said: 'The deceased's body was 100 metres from the paved road. On the side of the road was a sugarcane field and a forest behind the Wat Thammasatit temple.

'The dirt road was a mess because it had rained earlier. In the middle of the road, the deceased was found lying on his back covered in mud.'

Niwat's jaw had been slashed open, and he also had cuts on his temple, hands, and stomach. His pants had been pulled down and his manhood severed.

The body was taken to the Khlong Lan Hospital for a post-mortem exam.

Police Colonel Anek Chanthasorn, Deputy Commander of the Provincial Police of Kamphaeng Phet, said today that the suspect, Niwat's neighbour Apiwat Srirungfa, 58, had been arrested.

He was the prime suspect, as he was known to have an ongoing dispute with Niwat over land.

Police Colonel Anek added: 'During the initial search, the suspect still denied the charges. However, the police were able to find evidence - the scythe he had tried to dispose of in a pond next to his house.

'Faced with evidence, he had no choice but to confess.'

Apiwat allegedly admitted that he had ambushed Niwat as he was leaving the house. He claimed to have been waiting along the grassy roadside and pounced on Niwat when his motorcycle was stuck in mud.

He reportedly said: 'I did it alone. It was because we have a land dispute and he still owed me 30,000 baht. We keep having problems over our agreement, and he is trying to encroach on my property, outside of what was agreed upon.'

The suspect allegedly claimed that he had cut off his neighbour's penis 'to make it look like the motive was an extramarital affair'.

Apiwat, who was described by local media as 'remorseless' during his interview, was hauled to the police station to face legal charges.

Niwat's bereaved wife Patcharee urged police to continue investigating, as she believed Apiwat had an accomplice.

The head of the Wat Thammasathit temple said: 'Niwat was a good person. He often volunteers at the temple regularly, and he is diligent and never had problems with anyone that I knew of. I never thought he would meet this kind of fate.'