Russian tourist charged with murder in Thailand after throwing son off boat claims memory loss
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Witnesses reported seeing the father pick up the boy and toss him overboard before jumping in after him.
PHOTO: ANDAMANFOCUS/FACEBOOK
Follow topic:
BANGKOK – A Russian tourist has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly throwing his 13-year-old son overboard from a boat in Thailand.
The shocking incident occurred at 4pm on Jan 23 near Phang Nga’s Koh Ra island.
The boy, a Thai-Russian dual national, was pronounced dead at Kuraburi Chai Pattana Hospital after being rescued from the sea with severe head and facial injuries, likely caused by the boat’s propellers.
Witnesses reported seeing the father, identified as Artem Bugorskiy, pick up the boy and toss him overboard before jumping in after him.
The boat captain reported that he was transporting 33 tourists – 17 Thai nationals and 16 foreigners – back from the Surin Islands with a crew of five on board.
The boat had departed from the Surin Islands around 3pm and was about 200m away from the Ra and Phra Thong islands, about 4km from the shore, where the boat was set to anchor to drop off the tourists.
During the journey, the captain observed Bugorskiy leave his seat, walk towards his son, Lucas, and use both hands to grab the boy by the legs and torso.
He then pushed Lucas off the left side of the boat, near the bow, into the sea.
Following this, Bugorskiy jumped into the water after him.
The captain immediately stopped the boat and assisted both individuals. However, Bugorskiy refused assistance and declined to get back on board.
The captain then manoeuvred the boat to where Lucas was floating. A crew member jumped into the water to rescue the child, bringing him on board from the rear of the boat.
Upon providing first aid, the crew found Lucas to be seriously injured, with wounds to his face and head, suspected to have been caused by the boat’s propeller.
The captain then steered the boat to the Kuraburi pier, where the injured child was rushed to hospital.
Bugorskiy has since been arrested and charged with intentional homicide.
He told investigators during interrogation on Jan 24 that he could not recall the events that led to his son’s death.
According to eyewitness accounts, the father and son had an argument before the incident.
Police investigation has revealed that Bugorskiy had separated from his Thai wife, the mother of the dead child, and the boy was due to return to live with her.
The father and son had been staying at Surin Islands National Park since November 2024.
Inspectors suspect that family problems may have led to the alleged crime.
THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
