Skeleton believed to be missing Dutchman

CHALONG: A skeleton found yesterday evening near Yanui Beach is believed to be that of missing Dutch dive instructor David Wiewel. Local people found the remains at about 5pm while looking for shellfish, said Pol Col Chalit Kaewyarat, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station. The colonel said that it was impossible to tell from the remains whether foul play was involved, but investigators who had combed the area could find no signs of violence. The wife and relatives of Mr Wiewel, who disappeared on March 26 after walking out of his Kata home, identified shoes and clothing found with the body as his, and passed Mr Wiewel’s dental records to police. “The remains, the clothing [and the dental records] will be sent to Bangkok for autopsy and identification,” Col Chalit said. This, he said, would take about a month. When asked whether he believed the skeleton was that of Mr Wiewel, he said, “Probably. The remains were found not far from his home and he is the only person reported missing in the Chalong area in recent months.”