A 44-year-old man has been arrested in Thailand’s Phatthalung province after allegedly assaulting his elderly father during a dispute over money amounting to 9,000 baht (approximately RM1,200), an incident that later turned fatal.
Police said the arrest took place at around 9.30am on May 5 when officers from Mueang Phatthalung Police Station detained the suspect at his home while he was asleep.
The victim, a 74-year-old man, was reportedly involved in an argument with his son over the financial matter involving funds from a family bank account. The situation escalated inside their residence, leading to the father’s death.
During initial questioning, the suspect denied physically assaulting his father, claiming instead that the elderly man fell during the confrontation and died from injuries sustained in the incident. He also expressed remorse and admitted to a history of drug addiction.
Authorities, however, have charged him with assaulting a parent resulting in death. Police said further drug testing will determine whether additional charges will be filed.
Investigators also revealed that the suspect had prior criminal records, including arrests in 2011 and 2016 for drug-related offences, as well as a 2024 case involving possession of illegal substances.
The case remains under investigation as authorities work to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the fatal incident.
