Thai police arrest the final suspect of 6 in the 2009 murder of Canadian businessman in Phuket

[webfact]

 

Lt-Gen Jiraphop Phuridech said that Samrann Seemaek or Bank, 34, was named in a warrant for premeditated murder after an incident in February 2009.

 

The Canadian man - an executive of Panorama Condominium - was shot outside his residence in Patong. A business dispute with a Singaporean had built up. A Thai woman was engaged to find a hitman to kill him, reported Siam Rath.

 

The suspect had kept a low profile for years but last month he had been found living in Pathum Thani.

 

He managed to go to ground again  and was eventually cornered in a house in Hin Lek Fai sub-dictrict of Hua Hin, Prachuap Khirikhan. 

 

He denied involvement but police say they have plenty of evidence for a conviction.

 

Samran was a fixer who arranged accommodation and rode a motorcycle during the crime. 

Five other suspects have already been prosecuted. 

 

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[cheapcanuck]

Guilty until proven innocent. 

[aussienam]

The prevalence of 'hitmen for hire' here in Thailand is astounding.  It is not uncommon as well for drunken Thai women and men to announce their ability to arrange somebody to kill you (often a mention of the 'taxi mafia').  Has happened to me and others (the threat only thankfully!!).  I once was introduced to a drunk Thai man at a bar who announced his services - don't know why he wanted to tell me!  He brandished a huge knife under his shirt and mentioned his ability to acquire firearms and carry out other illegal matters.   I politely left.  

If you have the right money, it seems you can have anyone knocked off here.  We are in a developing country with a lot of third world mentality and huge corruption and crime.  Doing business here and dealing with undesirables is asking for trouble.  

Good to see BIB homicide have rounded up the last known suspect.  Let's see how the court process pans out. 

[BTB1977]

I thought thailand had a statute of limitations on criminal offenses. Something like 7 years???

[BTB1977]

2 minutes ago, BTB1977 said:

I thought thailand had a statute of limitations on criminal offenses. Something like 7 years???

Seems 20 years is the magical number. 15 years for lesser crimes.  

[Jonathan Swift]

9 minutes ago, aussienam said:

The prevalence of 'hitmen for hire' here in Thailand is astounding.  It is not uncommon as well for drunken Thai women and men to announce their ability to arrange somebody to kill you (often a mention of the 'taxi mafia').  Has happened to me and others (the threat only thankfully!!).  I once was introduced to a drunk Thai man at a bar who announced his services - don't know why he wanted to tell me!  He brandished a huge knife under his shirt and mentioned his ability to acquire firearms and carry out other illegal matters.   I politely left.  

If you have the right money, it seems you can have anyone knocked off here.  We are in a developing country with a lot of third world mentality and huge corruption and crime.  Doing business here and dealing with undesirables is asking for trouble.  

Good to see BIB homicide have rounded up the last known suspect.  Let's see how the court process pans out. 

And you really think it's any different in the west, except for the particulars? There are as many or more  "hitmen for hire" in the US alone. Biker and drug gangs, mobsters, disgruntled partners or spouses, Mexican and South American cartels committing mass murders including prosecutors, judges, and totally innocent people. Leaving severed heads on the streets. Just the other day there was a US story about a dog seen running with a human head in its mouth, the dead body had been dismembered and the dog found it before the police did.  The only difference I can see is in western countries they they don't tend to mingle socially and hand out business cards as apparently they do here. It's inherent in human nature for a certain few to turn to the dark side. Doesn't matter what country. No offense to you of course, maybe you came from one of the safer places in the world. 

[Tarteso]

Wrong finger point.. he is the Police, Not the bad guy..

 

[Why Me]

35 minutes ago, aussienam said:

'hitmen for hire'

I believe the Thai term is "khan pen" or gun hand.

[riverhigh]

That's a releif! After 13 years of performing charity work in other provinces  (since Feb 2009), I am glad Mr. Seemaek is in custody. Not uncommon for Thais to move to province where police have little interest in crimes conducted outside their jurisdiction. Especially against foreigners unless, as most probably as in this case,  there is big money involved. 

[RichardColeman]

1 hour ago, aussienam said:

The prevalence of 'hitmen for hire' here in Thailand is astounding.

I dare say that prevalence is boosted by Thailand's poverty

[Elkski]

I've read 15k baht can buy a hit.  And these guys bragging that carrying 4000$ US is chump change and typical vacation wads. 

[1duckyboy]

"Five other suspects have already been prosecuted." Don't keep me in suspense, the verdict was . . .

[Reigntax]

44 minutes ago, 1duckyboy said:

"Five other suspects have already been prosecuted." Don't keep me in suspense, the verdict was . . .

It’s was all the 6th guys doing 

[MeHere]

What an absolutely wonderfully written mind boggling article. 

[Kwaibill]

17 hours ago, BTB1977 said:

I thought thailand had a statute of limitations on criminal offenses. Something like 7 years???

I know that in the US there is no limitation for murder. In Thailand it is twenty years for crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment, or twenty years. Fifteen years for crimes punishable by sentences of seven to twenty years. Fairly long "limitations".

[Liverpool Lou]

18 hours ago, BTB1977 said:

I thought thailand had a statute of limitations on criminal offenses. Something like 7 years???

You thought wrong.

[sikishrory]

20 hours ago, aussienam said:

The prevalence of 'hitmen for hire' here in Thailand is astounding.  It is not uncommon as well for drunken Thai women and men to announce their ability to arrange somebody to kill you (often a mention of the 'taxi mafia').  Has happened to me and others (the threat only thankfully!!).  I once was introduced to a drunk Thai man at a bar who announced his services - don't know why he wanted to tell me!  He brandished a huge knife under his shirt and mentioned his ability to acquire firearms and carry out other illegal matters.   I politely left.  

If you have the right money, it seems you can have anyone knocked off here.  We are in a developing country with a lot of third world mentality and huge corruption and crime.  Doing business here and dealing with undesirables is asking for trouble.  

Good to see BIB homicide have rounded up the last known suspect.  Let's see how the court process pans out. 

Be careful in McDonald's.

I enquired at patong maccas where my drink was and the girl got angry and said "my family is taxi".

I just laughed. So weird.