Haunting last vid of Brit boy Woramet Taota, 16, before he was found dead in Thailand as cops hunt SECOND ‘girlfriend’
HAUNTING footage shows the final sighting of a British teenager before he was found dead in a forest in Thailand.
Woramet Ben Taota, 16, borrowed his mum’s blue scooter and was seen riding with a girl on the back on May 6.
But he was found murdered the following day and his grandmother fears he was lured to his death.
Cops have now launched a search for a second girl after finding his girlfriend Yam safe and well.
Police say Ben was “romantically involved” with the second girl – 16-year-old Suraphltchaya Khamsa – who was seen on the back of the scooter.
They were pictured at around 4.25pm on Saturday riding the bike as they visited her grandfather.
The pair then dropped off another girl, also seen on the bike, before riding away together at 7.18pm local time in darkness.
Ben’s first girlfriend, Yam, has now been found and police have ruled her out of the case.
There are fears, however, for Suraphltchaya following the arrest of suspect Chaiwat Boongarin, 44, who had known the pair “for several years”.
Police Major General Mongkol Sampawapol, commander of Lampang Provincial Police, said officers are still searching for Suraphltchaya as she was “the last person to see Ben” before he was killed.
He said: “A suspect has been apprehended who had known the victim for a long time.
“He denies having any involvement in the death. However, we believe he is involved and it is connected to drug dealing in the area.”
Police said the suspect had been released from prison around eight months ago following previous convictions for sex crimes.
They claimed that Chaiwat was seen riding his black Honda Wave motorcycle without a license plate on May 6 at around 9pm and parked it at his relative’s house with a young woman they believe is Ben’s girlfriend, Suraphltchaya.
The motorcycle was found by officers this morning, May 9, behind a cow shed close to the home.
Police Major General Sampawapol added: “The suspect told his relative that he wanted to leave his motorcycle at their house.
“He told them that he was looking for a rental house for his mistress.
“He then left the house with another motorcycle and returned the next morning.
“After that, he rode the black Honda Wave and left it near the hut before officers found it on May 9.
“We are still searching for the young woman and believe that she is still safe.”
Police officers from the Mae Tha district said they received a report on Sunday morning that the teenager, known to friends as Ben and who was half Thai and half British, had been found dead in a grove in the Ban Than district.
Officers found in his black shoulder bag a smartphone charger and a red wallet containing his ID card and bank card.
‘WE ARE DEVASTATED’
His smartphone and cash were missing, with police suggesting he could have been robbed for the gadgets and money.
Police believe Ben was killed elsewhere and dumped in the woods, as there were no signs of struggle where his remains were found.
They said he had head injuries consistent with severe trauma.
Officers interviewed Ben’s mother, Ooy Taota, who is understood to be separated from Ben’s British father, who now lives back in the United Kingdom.
Ooy told police that her son had said goodbye to her on Saturday evening and said he was “going to work with friends” but he did not give any more details to her.
She was pictured today breaking down in tears as she visited the spot where Ben was found dead.
Ben’s dad Steven Graham, 60, is travelling to Thailand as cops continue to investigate.
His grandmother Lilian Graham believes the teen was killed after being lured into the forest.
Mrs Graham, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, told the Mail: “Ben was with a girl and they went to the forest to meet a man.
“But something must have happened. And the man killed Ben.
“They don’t know what has happened to the girl.
“It’s been a real shock. We’re all devastated.”