Payong Dokmaihom, 54, was found dead in his bedroom on the second floor of the two-storey house in Don Nok Road in Surat Thani municipality. The victim, attached to the prosecution office of the Surat Thani District Court, had been beaten with a hard object and suffered deep knife wounds to his face and body, police said.
A knife, believed to have been used to attack the prosecutor, was left near the body and a broken electric fan. A 10-baht weight gold necklace was missing.
Payong was transferred from Takua Pa in Phangnga province to Surat Thani in April and was living in the house with a nephew, named Kai, who has been summoned for questioning, police said.
Deputy national police chief Aek Angsananont travelled to Surat Thani to meet Provincial Police Region 8 chief, Decha Butnampetch, and local police to discuss the killing. Pol Lt Gen Decha said possible suspects could include a close relative or a friend as the house had not been broken into although police have not ruled out robbery.