Jealousy drama in Phuket: Ex-wife experiences fatal attack in apartment

Jealousy drama in Phuket: Ex-wife experiences fatal attack in apartment

A dramatic incident has caused horror in Phuket: a 43-year-old man, Prapan Chukaew, was arrested after he fatally attacked her new partner in his ex-wife's apartment during a violent conflict. The incident happened around 6pm on October 14 at an apartment in Wichit when Prapan broke into the home of his 46-year-old ex-wife Phonphat Phanmani and her 59-year-old partner Woraphong Panthuta. He reportedly responded to jealousy by first choking Phonphat before turning on Woraphong, who was beaten to death in the attack. Witnesses reported that Woraphong lost consciousness during the attack and, despite immediate medical attention, he was pronounced dead at 7:45 p.m. The Thaiger reports that Prapan was arrested near the crime scene after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Jealousy is seen as the main motive for the violent attack.

But what is behind such acts of violence? Statistics show that the number of victims of domestic violence in Thailand is alarmingly high. According to reports from the Coalition Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Thailand, the daily number of people suffering from domestic violence is shocking. By 2025, more than 1,086 cases have been documented in the media, a significant proportion of which involve serious bodily harm or even murder. Thailandblog highlights that inadequate legislation often allows perpetrators to remain unpunished. This issue is also reflected in the current case, where Prapan is suspected of causing death by assault without intent to kill, under Section 290 of the Thai Penal Code.

A vicious circle of violence

Why is it that such acts of violence continue to occur? An analysis of 25 studies on the connections between infidelity and intimacy violence shows that jealousy often leads to domestic violence. Particularly in patriarchal cultures, the masculinity of the perpetrators is threatened, which can lead to attacks. Some studies have found a significant connection between suspicion of infidelity and experiences of physical violence, particularly in North and Latin American societies. National Center for Biotechnology Information draws attention to the fact that men suffering from jealousy often resort to physical and psychological violence.

The problem is not new, but the increasing number of attacks must provoke a rethink in society. More effective protection for victims of domestic violence is urgently needed. Various organizations are calling for legal reforms to strengthen the rights of those affected and establish harsher punishments for perpetrators. Unless intensive action is taken, the safety of many people in Thailand will remain at risk and incidents such as the recent attack in Phuket will continue to be the sad reality.