The 63-year-old man had sold his business in Germany before moving to Thailand. Interviewed by police on Monday, his Thai wife revealed his current occupation appeared to be online. She suggested he may have been distressed by the sudden death of his younger brother in Korat recently.
A police investigation is underway into the death of a German man in Kanchanaburi early on Monday morning after his remains were found when 10 units of the fire service were called to his home which exploded into an inferno at 3.30 am approximately. Police found the charred body of 63-year-old Uwe Albrecht, who had lived in Thailand for over twenty years with this wife, hanging in the kitchen of the house. Outside, sprayed on the walls were messages appearing to accuse his wife of infidelity.
A lovesick German man was found hanged on Monday morning by investigating police responding to an inferno at his two-storey home in tambon Tha Makham in the Mueang district or centre of Kanchanaburi town.
The alarm was raised after 3.30 am when neighbours awoke to hear what they reported as three to four loud explosions coming from the home of the 63-year-old man who, it is understood, was living alone after his Thai wife of 21 years had recently left him.
Police treating the death of the German as either suicide or murder at this stage as enquiries continue
On Monday, police confirmed that they were treating the death as either suicide or murder as they ordered an autopsy of the body which was removed from the scene.
It is understood to have been taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok.
Investigating police are delving into the death of the 63-year-old since it was understood that he had life insurance policies both in Thailand and Germany.
In this regard, officers are believed to be seeking information from the German Embassy in Bangkok.
Police, on Monday, named the man as Mr Uwe Albrecht who was married to Mrs Kamolwan Albrecht for 21 years.
Thai wife gave a statement to police on Monday after rushing back to the home she shared with Mr Albrecht
On Monday, the 60-year-old wife of the deceased man gave a statement to police in which she suggested her husband had been experiencing stress. She also believed he may have been impacted by the recent sudden death of his younger brother who also lived in Thailand.
Police are understood to have found the remains of the German man with 80% burns all over his body in the kitchen area of his home. He was hanging from a rafter with a steel rope around his neck.
Couple understood to have become estranged recently
The German husband and Thai wife are believed to have become estranged in the last few months according to neighbours.
It appears that Ms Kamolwan had moved to the Phanom Thuan district of Kanchanaburi leaving the German residing alone.
However, speaking with police and the media on Monday, the German man’s wife explained that she had previously brought two grandchildren to live with her at the couple’s home but her husband told her to leave with them as he found it difficult to concentrate on his work.
Husband worked nocturnal hours in front of a computer while she took on sewing work to help
As to the nature of her husband’s work, she said she was unsure but she could reveal that it involved work in front of a computer screen.
Her husband tended to work at night time and very early in the morning before retiring to sleep and resting in the afternoon.
She had recently taken up a job sewing clothes to help financially.
Mr Albrecht had been the owner of an electronics store in Germany before selling the business and buying the couple’s current home when he moved to Thailand.
German’s younger brother recently died suddenly in Korat, he was also said to be married to a Thai woman
The German man’s wife explained that her husband’s younger brother had lived in Korat with a Thai wife. He had recently died. She indicated that her brother in law’s death was unexpected.
She said her husband had been involved in making funeral arrangements for his brother and had told her that he would be away for some time.
Ms Kamolwan said she had returned home to visit the Phra Phum Shrine over the Chinese New Year.
Private man who never spoke with neighbours
Local residents told police, on Monday, that Mr Albrecht was a very private person who never socialised or mingled with neighbours in the village. They say that he hardly ever spoke.
His wife had returned to the house on several occasions since moving out but had always left shortly afterwards.
Police had entered the house on Monday morning after the fire. It was still dark. Officers first of all shouted to see if anyone was inside but received no response.
They were shocked at the sight of the German who appeared to have presented a gruesome sight by torchlight at the scene after having been strangled to death.
Massive inferno at the home caused by gas explosions brought under control by 10 fire units in one hour
Details of the case were given to the press by Police Lieutenant Colonel Suthikan Iamsamang who said that 10 fire engines had responded to the blaze. Officers were forced to cut the lock to the gate of the house to slide it aside.
The fire was successfully brought under control within an hour of the arrival of the fire service at the scene.
Police who entered the home found three coloured 15 kg gas cylinders on the ground floor. The valves of the cooking gas tanks had been left open.
On the second floor of the home, they found two more gas tanks of a similar nature but these were covered in tires indicating that the fire had been deliberately set.
Note: ‘21-years cheating but never enough, fuck you’
On the sidewalls of the home, written in English in pink spray or marker, was what appeared to be a message from the German man to his estranged wife.
‘21-year cheating but never enough, fuck you,’ it read.
In front of the house, police discovered the remains of a car and a number of motorbikes also destroyed by the fire while behind, covered in cloth, two further high power motorbikes were left unscathed by the conflagration.
Mayor of Kanchanaburi and deputy on-site to direct response to the emergency situation on Monday
On Monday morning, in response to the emergency, the Mayor of Kanchanaburi, Wasan Phusitkanchana together with his deputy, Kriengkrai Jongcharoen, arrived to help direct the response.
They were joined by officials from the Provincial Electricity Authority who were called out to cut the electricity supply to the structure.
A shocked Kamolwan Albrecht returned to the house after being alerted to the tragic demise of her husband.
Before giving a statement to police, she revealed that her husband had left Germany 21 years ago to come and live with her in Thailand after they had married.
The couple is understood to have moved into the home at that time.
Small city the scene of another tragedy just weeks ago
Kanchanaburi is a small city in one of Thailand’s western provinces bordering Myanmar which was the scene of a brutal murder, some weeks ago, of 49-year-old UK man, Mr Marcus John Evans, in the course of a late-night party.
Police chief orders mental health evaluation of the main suspect in the brutal slaying of a UK tourist
British man murdered in Kanchanaburi while drinking beer at a late-night party outside a house
A local 22 year old with a history of mental health issues was arrested for the killing and subsequently sent for evaluation by the local police superintendent under Thailand’s 2008 Mental Health Act.
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Further reading:
Paranoid Swiss man died in Pattaya home fire on Thursday from prolonged smoke inhalation
British man murdered in Kanchanaburi while drinking beer at a late-night party outside a house
Murder of Swiss tourist on Phuket raises the disturbing question of tourist safety in Thailand
Accused tells press he murdered the Swiss tourist last week in Phuket and stole ฿300 for drugs
Thai man sentenced to death for the Ko Si Chang murder of German woman Miriam Beelte in April
Evil struck a Thai island on Sunday when a local brutally raped and murdered a German woman
Norwegian dies from smoke inhalation after fire erupts at 16th story Pattaya condo building
Luxurious interior contributed to the Lady D fire as police intially suggest the yacht was insured
Norwegian dies from smoke inhalation after fire erupts at 16th story Pattaya condo building
