Thai police suspect Tata executive killed himself

BANGKOK (AP) — Thai police said Monday they suspect a top British executive at Indian automotive giant Tata Motors committed suicide in a fall from a luxury hotel in Bangkok.

Managing Director Karl Slym died Sunday while in Thailand to attend a board meeting of the company's Thai affiliate.

Maj. Gen. Pornchai Sutheerakhun, head of the Thai police forensic unit, said Slym died after falling from his room on the hotel's 22nd floor.

Police Lt. Somyot Bunnakaew said investigators believe Slym may have killed himself because of a suicide note left in the room referring to domestic problems. He said the letter was being analyzed to confirm it was written by Slym.

Slym joined Tata Motors in October 2012 and was providing leadership to the company during a difficult market period, company Chairman Cyprus P. Mistry said in a statement.

He described Slym as "a valued colleague who was providing strong leadership at a challenging time for the Indian auto industry."

"In this hour of grief, our thoughts are with Karl's wife and family," he said.