Due to his controversial ackground as the coopera tives' manager, and a local political figure, the investiga- tion began with the assump tion his death resulted from a conflict in the cooperatives, said Pol Lt Col Pitsanu. Authorities had launched a probe into corruption in the cooperatives and someone close to those circles had accused Prasit of being involved, he said. Police also suspected Prasit had enemies, as he carried a gun while travel ling. But an inspection of the crime scene steered the investigation in a new direction M said Pol Lt Col Pitsanu.