KUALA LUMPUR: A terminally ill French millionaire left her Thai maid an inheritance of 100 million baht (USD 2.7 million) on her birthday before reportedly committing suicide.
However, currently, the inheritance is said to be put on hold as authorities are investigating whether the maid can inherit such an amount of wealth right away, the Bangkok Post reported.
The maid's ill 59-year-old French boss was recently found dead at her residence on the island of Koh Samui.
No foul play was suspected, but a probe is underway into a villa-style hotel belonging to Catherine Delacote in tambon Mae Nam on Koh Samui island in Surat Thani province.
The French woman had left assets totalling about 100 million baht to Nutwalai Pupongta, 49, her housemaid of 17 years.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the hotel was built legally. But authorities have yet to determine the shareholdings in the company belonging to the deceased French woman which owns the hotel.
The company, GVNE, had three shareholders. Delacote owned a 4 per cent stake, while two Thai individuals held the remaining shares. A man from Ubon Ratchthani owned 3 per cent, and a woman from Nakhon Si Thammarat held a 16 per cent share.
The French woman, who had divorced her French husband, was discovered dead near a swimming pool within the upscale villa compound on April 29. Her body had a bullet hole through the temple, with a gun found at the scene.
Authorities in Koh Samui said that an estate executor, with a court order, could distribute the deceased woman's assets in accordance with her will.
The president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui said that approval from the two Thai shareholders in Catherine's company might be necessary for asset transfer.
Additionally, legal counsel noted that if a company unlawfully utilised a proxy shareholder, the Interior Ministry could auction off its assets.