Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a decomposing female body, believed to be that of a missing Ukrainian tourist, found in a forest on Samui Island yesterday.

Ms. Orla Frolova, 32, was reported missing to Borpood police on May 25^th by her boyfriend, who was taken to the crime scene in an attempt to identify the remains.  He reportedly told the police that the personal effects, including a shoulder bag, were those of his girlfriend.

The body was later taken the district hospital for autopsy.

The remains were covered by coconut leaves in the forest in Tambon Mared, about 15 metres from an unpaved road.  Police suspect the victim might have been murdered and her body dumped in the forest.

The person who found the body is a hotel worker, who reportedly said that he went to the forest on June 5^th in search of wild mushrooms.  Passing the scene, he became aware of the smell of decomposition and searched until he found what appeared to be a human leg.

He said he was too scared to get any closer and immediately went home to tell his wife and neighbours about the discovery.

Yesterday, he returned to the scene, with some neighbours, to investigate and discovered it was a human body and immediately notified the police.