Suspect in Isaan Murder Case Accuses Police Officer of Involvement

Photo via ThaiRath

In a troubling murder case in Sakon Nakhon province, one of the suspects has implicated a police officer in the scheme to kill 32-year-old Wichian Jityen for a 14 million baht insurance payout. The investigation began when insurance companies flagged suspicious circumstances surrounding Wichian's death.

Wichian's death was initially reported as an accident involving three vehicles. According to the suspects, Wichian fell from a pickup driven by Somsak Wobao, and while one vehicle managed to avoid him, another, driven by Peerasak Raksakun, allegedly ran over him.

However, insurance firms doubted the accident narrative, noting unconventional death-related injuries and recently acquired multiple policies on the involved vehicles. They suspected murder to collect the insurance money. Wichian's sister had also previously mentioned to one of the suspects, Sakon Sornkaew, that she wished for her brother's demise out of anger but did not mean it literally.

Police issued warrants for the arrest of Sakon, Somsak, Peerasak, and Pornchanok Onsurathum, based on the evidence. Peerasak confessed, indicating a deliberate murder plan, while Sakon and Somsak denied involvement. Pornchanok, later surrendering to authorities, admitted partial involvement but claimed coercion by Sakon. He revealed the murder was camouflaged as an accident, after Wichian was left drunk on the road deliberately to be killed.

Intriguingly, Pornchanok alleged that Police Lieutenant Colonel Nanmanas Phosri was present during crime planning discussions. Lt. Col. Nanmanas is now under investigation for his purported role in the sordid affair.

This case highlights serious allegations of police complicity in a gruesome murder, urging a thorough probe into the claims and leaving open-ended questions about the extent of corruption within the ranks, reported The Thaiger.