Pattaya Police have found a car with traces of bathroom cleaner after its owner, a 62-year-old German, went missing on July 4.
The silver Mercedes-Benz E350 was found at the parking lot of CC Condominium in Bang Lamung district on Sunday morning. It belonged to Hans Mack, a property broker who has lived with his 24-year-old Thai wife for five years.
Police said on Sunday the discovery dimmed hopes for Mr Mack's safe return because there were traces of either coolant or bathroom cleaner fluid on the seats, dashboard, steering wheel, gearbox and other interior parts of the car. The apparently "cleaned" parts showed solvent stains.
"There was intention to destroy evidence and the case indicates that Mr Hans Peter Ralter Mack's disappearance was suspicious," police said.
A local food vendor said the car was parked there a few days ago and two women got out. One of them had dark skin and was about 160 centimetres tall.
A 54-year-old German woman, a property broker, told police she met Mr Mack on July 4 to discuss potential sales. After the talk, they separated.
The German man's family has offered a 3-million-baht reward for information that could help locate him.
The family filed a disappearance complaint with local police on July 5.
Surveillance camera footage showed the German man went to a restaurant on July 4 and left the place at 12.37pm on the same day.
He drove past Chaiyaphruek intersection towards Jomtien beach – the last known image of his whereabouts.
