Woman Cuts Rope Of Building Painters Out Of Annoyance, Faces Attempted Murder Charge

A 34-year-old woman in Thailand's Nonthaburi province admitted to cutting the safety rope of two workers that were suspended above the 26th floor of a building earlier this month.

The two painters were being lowered from the 32nd floor of an undisclosed condominium building in the district of Pak Kret on Oct. 12 to repair a crack when they saw the woman, identified as Nichanan Toh, cut their safety rope, The Bangkok Post reported.

One of the workers signaled for help as the pair could no longer descend by themselves due to the cut rope, according to the Thai newspaper.

Footage of the two workers asking residents on the building's 26th floor to open their windows and let them in their condominiums circulated on social media, a report by The Associated Press said.

A resident on the floor, identified as Praphaiwan Setsing, allowed the two workers to land on her balcony and the incident was reported to the condominium's administration.

The building's management accompanied the painters to report the incident to police.

Police disclosed the incident to the public Wednesday and Toh is now facing attempted murder as well as property destruction charges over her actions, according to Pak Kret police station chief Pol. Col. Pongjak Preechakarunpong.

Toh initially denied the allegations against her, but police sent the severed rope for a fingerprint and DNA analysis. She reportedly admitted to cutting the rope at Pak Kret police station Wednesday with her lawyer after she was presented with surveillance footage and forensic evidence, but she denied any intention to kill the workers.

Toh claimed she cut the rope out of annoyance as she did not see a notice from the building's administration that explained repair work would be done on the day of the incident.

The condominium's administration, however, had already notified residents in writing that repair work would be done between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Oct. 12, which involved workers using ropes outside their rooms, as per The Bangkok Post.

Additionally, the management allegedly encouraged residents to close windows and put away any items on their balconies.

Toh has been temporarily released, according to Preechakarunpong. Police are planning to file an indictment at the provincial court, he added.

Toh faces a maximum prison term of 20 years should she be found guilty of attempted murder.