IS IT A SUICIDE?

Karl Slym, Managing Director of Tata Motors, who died here yesterday under mysterious circumstances, may have committed suicide, Thai police indicated today. 51-year-old Slym's body was found by the staff of a five-star hotel on the balcony of the fourth floor after plunging from the 22nd floor. He was here to attend a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Thai subsidiary of his company. Police have found an apparent suicide note at the scene which has been sent for analysis to confirm that it was written by Slym. "Initially, we can only assume that he committed suicide," a police officer said. Police ruled out murder as the cause of the death of Slym, who allegedly fell out of a window of his room at the riverside Shangri-la Hotel. Officials told the media that the window was small and "he had to try hard to get through it". The hand-written note was reportedly found in the room which Slym and his wife of 30 years had checked into on January 24. They were to check out yesterday. The note is also being translated into Thai as part of the investigation, officials said. Police Lieutenant Somyot Boonyakeow said there were no signs of a struggle in the British national's room, which did not have a balcony but had a big sealed glass window and another smaller window that could be opened. Slym's body was identified by a Tata Motors official, said sources. An autopsy was scheduled for later today. The executive's wife may later take the body to Britain, sources said. Boonyakeow said Slym's wife will also be interviewed. Pornchai Suteerakune, who heads the Institute of Forensic Medicine, told reporters that Slym was killed by the fall from the 22nd floor.