A former Thai ambassador to Denmark was found dead at his house in a high end housing estate in Bangkok’s Chatuchak district this morning (Sunday).

According to Sutthisan police, the emergency services and forensic experts were dispatched to the three-storey residence in Vibhavadi Rangsit Soi 20 after police received a call from a construction worker complaining of foul odour emanating from the house.

They had an appointment to carry out repairs. On arrival they doorbell, but there was no response. They came suspicious because of the smell and alerted called the police.

The police broke into the house and found the partially decomposed body of an elderly man in the bathroom of the second floor, covered by several cardboard boxes. Police believe the man died about a week ago.

Witnesses told the police that the victim moved into the house about a month ago, after it had been renovated, and he lived alone.

Police searched the house, which had apparently been ransacked. Police also checked the CCTV system, which included an image of one of the two sons of the painter who had worked on the house.

Police say that they will question the painter’s son.