A woman reportedly angered because she wasn't informed that painters would begin work on her high-rise condominium in Thailand cut their support rope and left them hanging until they were rescued, the Associated Press reported.
The woman, who wasn't immediately named, is now facing charges for attempted murder and property destruction, according to Pol. Colonel Pongjak Preechakarunpong, chief of the Pak Kret police station north of Bangkok.
While Pongjak did not disclose why the woman decided to cut the support rope, Thai media reported that she became frustrated after noticing the workers appear outside her room. She apparently hadn't been given notice from the condo that the painters were coming to do work on October 12, AP reported.
The two painters were suspended above the 26th floor until a couple inside the building rescued them. A video clip posted on social media showed the workers asking residents on the 26th floor to open the window so they could come inside, according to AP.
For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.
One of the painters, a Myanmar national named Song, told the Thai media that he and his two friends had lowered themselves from the 32nd floor to repair a crack on the building.
When he reached the 30th floor, he felt that the rope was heavier and when he looked down, he saw someone on the 21st floor open a window and cut his rope. He tried asking for help from other units, but nobody was in. The third colleague continued to support them from the top floor, said Praphaiwan Setsing, the resident who saved them.
Praphaiwan said her British husband noticed one painter signaling for help and called her to talk to them.
"This incident is shocking and should not happen at all," she said.
The management of the condo accompanied the painters to report the incident to the police. The 34-year-old woman at first denied she was responsible, but police sent the severed rope for a fingerprint and DNA analysis, media reported.
On Wednesday, the woman and her lawyer appeared at the police station. After the police showed her the CCTV footage and the forensic evidence, she confessed but denied any intention to kill the workers.
Pongjak said the suspect was temporarily released. Police will file an indictment at the provincial court within 15 days, he said. She could face a prison term up to 20 years if found guilty on a charge of attempted murder.
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