Sihanoukville hosts Brit wanted for murder in Thailand

A British national wanted in Thailand for the 2004 murder of his then-girlfriend on the resort island of Phuket is currently residing in Sihanoukville, though Cambodian authorities are not presently seeking his arrest, police officials said yesterday.

Seng Saroeun, deputy chief of provincial immigration police in Preah Sihanouk province, said yesterday that Michael Taylor – who had been jailed in Thailand over the stabbing death of his girlfriend Jantra Weangta, but reportedly left the country while free on bail – was living on the Cambodian coast.

“This man has been staying in Cambodia now. He is staying in Preah Sihanouk province,” Saroeun said in an interview yesterday. “He worked as a businessman at a resort.”

However, Lieutenant General Lim Sokha Reaksmey, head of Cambodian Interpol, said that while the two countries often cooperate on extradition matters, no action would be taken in Taylor’s case unless a request was received from Thailand.

“So far, our Cambodian Interpol has not received any request for cooperation from Thai Interpol regarding this case,” he said. “So police will not take action against him or arrest him unless he is committing crimes in Cambodia.”

Phnompenhpost