Asos Co-Founder's Ex-Wife Denies Murder After His Fatal Fall in Thailand
The ex-wife of Asos co-founder Quentin Griffiths has publicly denied any involvement in his death after he fell from an 18-floor building in Thailand. Griffiths, 58, reportedly plunged from a complex in Pattaya on February 9, just days before a scheduled court appearance with his Thai ex-wife, Ploy Kringsinthanakun, 43.
Fraud Allegations and Legal Dispute
The tragedy occurred amid an ongoing legal dispute between Griffiths and Kringsinthanakun. She had accused him of fraudulently selling land and shares worth £500,000 from a company they operated together. In January, Griffiths was reportedly arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and questioned by detectives after Kringsinthanakun alleged he forged documents to sell assets without her knowledge.
Griffiths denied the allegations, insisting all business transactions were lawful. He was released after questioning, but the investigation was continuing at the time of his death. Court papers revealed he was accused of "many offences against the law," including reporting false messages to police and falsely claiming a land deed was lost.
Ex-Wife's Statement and Background
Kringsinthanakun told The Sun: "I had absolutely nothing to do with his death. How could I kill him? How would I know anything about it? I live in Bangkok - I wasn't in Pattaya." She said she learned about his death from his lawyer, who called to arrange negotiations regarding their case.
She expressed sadness over his death, stating: "Of course I am sad about his death, he is the father of my children, so I am worried about them and what they are going through." Kringsinthanakun added that they had not been in contact for four years and eight months after she discovered he had been unfaithful.
She also voiced suspicions about the lack of media coverage of his death in Thailand and claimed he had stopped her from seeing their children for almost five years.
Police Investigation and Findings
Emergency services found Griffiths' body on the ground below his balcony, with reports indicating he was not wearing shoes. Police told the BBC that he was alone, with his room locked from the inside, and there was no evidence of a break-in. Officers found two opened bottles of wine and a bottle of water in his condo.
A police source said: "Officers arrived at the scene and it was confirmed that Quentin was dead. An ambulance took his body to the hospital for a post-mortem examination. The CCTV inside the building was checked. The only person who went into the room was Quentin, so we do not believe there was anything suspicious." A post-mortem examination revealed no evidence of foul play.
Asos Tribute and Griffiths' Legacy
Asos paid tribute to Griffiths, stating: "We're saddened to hear about the passing of Quentin, one of our original co-founders. He played an important role in Asos's earliest days, and we're forever grateful for his contribution. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."
Griffiths helped launch Asos in 2000 alongside Nick Robertson and Andrew Regan, remaining with the company until 2005. The online fashion retailer grew into a £3 billion global brand, with notable customers including the Princess of Wales and Michelle Obama. A former advertising executive, he stepped down as marketing director after four years.
He later made £15 million from share sales in 2010 and received a further stock windfall in 2013. Griffiths sued his accountants at BDO, claiming he was given wrong advice on tax avoidance for share sales, which cost him over £4 million in tax on sales exceeding £10 million in Asos and Achica, another online retailer he co-founded.
The father of three moved to Thailand around 2007. After divorcing his first wife, he married a Thai woman and had a son and a daughter, but the couple separated several years ago.
A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson told the Daily Mail: "We are supporting the family of a British national who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities."
