POLICE YESTERDAY searched the apartment of a Spanish man whose body parts were found in several locations, to solve the murder mystery.

They also checked his Line chats and talked to one of his friends for clues about his dealings before his murder.

Police suspected that the man was killed and dismembered after he was kidnapped and extorted.

The first body part, a right arm with tape around the wrist, was found floating in the Chao Phraya River at the end of Charansanidwong 42.

The following day, three other body parts were found – a right leg in Nonthaburi’s Muang district, a head in the province’s Pak Kret district and a torso in Pathum Thani province.

Other body parts were subsequently spotted at different locations along the Chao Phraya River. As of yesterday only the left arm was yet to be found.

DNA tests revealed that the body parts belonged to the same man.

Pol General Panya Mamen, the case’s chief investigator, said the victim was a Spanish businessman who worked as an adviser to a foreign company.

Panya added that it was possible the murder may have stemmed from conflicts in an illegal business and police had not ruled other motives.

He believed more two people were involved in the murder and they were laying low in Thailand.

“I am convinced that this case will be solved within 48 hours. All the perpetrators are foreign gangsters, but we suspect that some Thais may have had knowledge of the crime,” he said.

An official at the Spanish Embassy in Bangkok said the embassy was yet to receive confirmation of the victim’s identity.

Panya said the murder likely took place between January 25-27. Detectives are working on the theory that he was kidnapped and coerced before being killed, the general said.

“Police have also detected that after his death, the killers transferred his money to several countries including Singapore, Spain and within Thailand,” Panya said.

The victim’s four-star apartment is located on Sukhumvit Soi 8 in Klong Toey district, an informed source said, adding a witness said he usually left his key card inside the apartment and had security guards or maids open the door for him.

He was a frequent visitor to Thailand with a latest entry date of January 19, the source said.

He left the apartment on January 20 on a motorcycle and was carrying a foreign passenger.

One of his friends alerted Lumpini police on Wednesday to say he might know the identity of the victim. The source quoted his friend as saying he texted the victim via Line and believed the person texting him back was not his friend. His phone was switched off.

The name of victim is being withheld until the next of kin is notified.