BANGKOK, July 23 (TNA) – After more than a decade of
investigation, the 2007 murder of Japanese female tourist Tomoko Kawashita in
Thailand is now leading to a man in Japan.
The Japanese tourist was murdered while she was travelling
in the northern Sukhothai province during Loy Krathong Festival. Local police were unable to solve the case
before the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has taken over.
Key elements of the case are DNA samples found on the
victim’s body and clothes. Nearly 400
DNA samples have been collected and compared with the victim’s genetic
materials, but none of them match.
Dr. Worawee Waiyawut, director of the Central Forensic
Science Institute’s Genetic Substances Division, said in a press conference on
Thursday that new procedures using new chemical Yfiler Plus found more genetic
material shedding light on the possible killer’s identity.
The new DNA traces pointed to Japanese or Korean person, not
Thai, Dr Worawee said.
Justice Minister Somsak Thepsutin said Japanese authorities
would take the findings to continue investigation in Japan.
Tomoyuki Fujiyama, a Japanese representative attending the
news conference, thanked Thailand for the efforts to solve the murder
case. Japanese authorities would
coordinate with their Thai counterparts in the next phase of investigation, he
said.
DSI investigators have also sought DNA sample of a man in
Japan for comparison with the genetic material extracted from the victim’s
clothing. But the man’s identity has not
been disclosed.
Kowashita’s parents have made several trips to Thailand and
offered a reward in the hope of bringing the murderer to justice. (TNA)
