Thai Court Sentences 'Am Cyanide' to Life for Murder

Thailand’s Criminal Court sentenced Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn, known as “Am Cyanide,” to life imprisonment for the premeditated murder of Pol Maj Nipa Saenchan. Originally given the death penalty, the sentence was reduced due to the defendant's partially beneficial testimony. The verdict was delivered in case number Aor.77/2568 at the Criminal Court in Bangkok.

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The prosecution argued that on April 1, 2023, Sararat used cyanide to murder Pol Maj Nipa to hide fraudulent activities, which included alleged crimes against the victim. The murder occurred in Phra Pathom Chedi, Nakhon Pathom province. Sararat was present at the court for the verdict, surrounded by the victim’s family and expert witnesses.

In court, it was determined that Sararat had premeditated the act, using cyanide to carry out the killing. Despite her life sentence, the family felt the punishment was too lenient. The victim’s sister, Laddawan, expressed satisfaction with the court’s initial stance but remained saddened by the loss of her sister, who had trusted Sararat.

Assoc Prof Dr Weerachai Phutdhawong, known as "Ajarn Ood," highlighted inconsistencies in the defense and praised the investigative work, including evidence from phone records and eyewitnesses at a chicken rice shop. This evidence suggested the defendant and victim dined together before the victim’s death. Cyanide presence in the victim’s body linked the murder to debts from online gambling.

Ajarn Ood noted that further court hearings might revisit the possibility of increasing the sentence back to the death penalty. The victim’s family, particularly sister Charuwan, stated they sought no compensation, focusing solely on justice. She expressed gratitude to those who aided in securing the verdict and acknowledged ongoing challenges in accepting the tragedy, reported The Nation.

Key Takeaways

• Sararat Rangsiwuthaporn was sentenced to life for premeditated murder.

• The court reduced the initial death penalty, citing mitigations.

• Evidence linked the murder to fraud and online gambling debts.

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Nation · 20 Feb 2026