Novotel Bang Na Bangkok employee and former border-patrol officer Phakhinai Janwiman is wanted for concealing a body and theft too.

Police are concerned Phakhinai will attempt to flee the country.

National police assistant commissioner Lt-General Jongrak Juthanont said police would use whatever means necessary to capture Phakhinai. The use of force has been authorised if the suspect resists arrest.

"The suspect is a former border-patrol policeman. He might have weapons and will not simply surrender. If he resists arrest police can use force," said Jongrak at a news conference yesterday at police headquarters.

Phakanai is suspected of killing Sukanda Mekloy, 27, as he drove her to a Prawet district Siam Commercial Bank on Monday.

Phakanai told police Sukanda had disappeared together with around Bt500,000 in local and foreign currency. Police took his statement and released him.

Sukanda's body was found on Friday in an isolated pond in a small alley of Soi 7 off Chalerm Phra Kiat Road, not far from the bank branch. Jongrak said a post mortem had found she had been suffocated.

"The suspect's behaviour was cruel. He assaulted her until she was unconscious then dumped her in a pond. We don't know if the victim was dead before being put in the pond," he said.

He added that Phakhinai faced the death penalty if convicted.

Police are investigating fingerprints, hair and bloodstains retrieved from the car Phakanai drove to the bank.

Sukanda's funeral was yesterday. Father Ratchada asked Phakanai to surrender. He has met the suspect and said his daughter referred to him as "uncle".

"I can't believe he did this to her. His daughter is the same age as mine. If someone did the same thing to his daughter what would he do?" Ratchada said.

Ratchada criticised the police for allowing Phakanai to go free after making his statement.