Malaysian Lawyer Murdered In Thailand

[sriracha john]

Kasim Cha Tong

Malaysian lawyer gunned down

KOTA BARU: Lawyer Kasim Cha Tong, who gained fame during the 1980s as an anti-piracy enforcer, was gunned down by two assassins at his home in the Thai border town of Sungai Golok.

In the midnight incident yesterday, two assassins whose nationalities are unknown went up to his house in the town centre and knocked on the door.

When Kasim, 57, opened the door, one of the assassins opened fire. Kasim, shot in the chest, died on the spot.

The two assassins fled the scene before neighbours who heard the gunshot could react.

Sungai Golok police chief Lt Phamong Sall confirmed the incident and said 10 pellets penetrated Kasim’s body.

Although seemingly the work of a hitman, Lt Phamong said, the Thai police could not say so for certain until a full investigation was carried out. Under Thai police procedure, it would take two to three days to prepare an interim investigative report, he added.

Kasim’s body has been taken to the Sungai Golok district hospital for a post-mortem. Lt Phamong said it was unlikely that the murder was related to the ongoing unrest in southern Thai where three bombings occurred within minutes of each other yesterday, resulting in 62 Thai nationals injured.

Thai anti-government militants would usually either shoot a target from afar or behead a person, seldom resorting to killing someone at close range, he said in an interview.

Sungai Golok, in Narathiwat province, is the second busiest township on the Malaysia-Thai border after Hat Yai, which is located in Songkhla province.

Kasim spearheaded efforts to tackle music piracy in the 1980s in the Klang Valley where commercial music was then replicated in cassettes. He also worked extensively with the Anti-Corruption Agency in preserving the musical copyrights of foreign artists, his work gaining the recognition of the American Music Copyrights Holders Association.

He subsequently read Law in Britain, and on his return several years later decided to reside in Sungai Golok where, it is learnt, his family has business interests. Kasim is originally from Kelantan, but Malaysian police intelligence operatives also believe he had acquired permanent residence status in Thailand for business reasons.

- The Star (Malaysia) / 2008-11-05

[CroBiker]

Sungai Golok is equivalent of wild west Tumbstone or Deadwood.

Been there dozens of times, walking around town at night equals suicide. Back in 70's and 80's town was divided among real mobster figures of Malay/Pakistani heritage. Some of those Godfathers are still there but many have been "executed" by police or killed in battles between each other.

My point is: life isn't worth much there if you step on somebody's toes.

My sincere condolences to family and friends of deceased.

[Scott]

My condolences to the family. Was there anything important that he had been working on lately that might have prompted this?

[sriracha john]

Was there anything important that he had been working on lately that might have prompted this?

It seems as if was retired, but here's quite a different description of the murder from the other major Malaysian news source...

Anti-piracy hero Kasim shot dead

SUNGAI GOLOK (Thailand): Kasim Cha Tong, noted anti-piracy campaigner, and former policeman and Anti-Corruption Agency officer, was shot and killed after having his dinner at a restaurant some 2 Km from Golok town here on Monday night.

Kasim, 56, a leading lawyer in the Malaysian Thai community, was walking towards his motorcycle when he was shot in the back from close range with a sawed-off shotgun.

The killer then fled on a waiting motorcycle.

Sungai Golok Deputy Police Chief Sub-Colonel Wan Seman Wan Salleh said the killer was in the same restaurant with Kasim.

"The victim was with several friends but left on his own. The killer who was alone shot him and fled," Wan Seman said. "Kasim was rushed to the Sungai Golok hospital, but succumbed to his injuries on arrival," Wan Seman said there was no indication that the victim knew the killer when they were at the restaurant. They did not speak to each nor was there any incident which warranted the murder.

He said they were still investigating the motive for the attack.

It is learnt that police have ruled out robbery and are looking at the possibility that hired killers were involved. There have been no arrests so far.

Kasim, who was born in this border town, made his name as an anti-piracy campaigner with the International Federation of Phonogram Industry in the early 1980s. He was the Deputy Regional Director.

He was also a Director of Motion Pictures Export Association of America. Kasim became a household name when he led numerous anti-piracy operations.

Kasim also studied law in England and after retirement had been living here.

His body was claimed by family members and is now at the Tong Dee Pracham temple at Waeng road here.

His former wife, Irene Hooi, sons Vicharn, 28, Virapol, 22, and daughter Vichittra, 25, rushed with several friends from Kuala Lumpur on hearing the news.

Irene said she was informed about the incident by Kasim's sister, Onrapee Rattanawongse, about 1.30 am.

"We started from Kuala Lumpur about 2 am and claimed the body from the hospital on arrival," said the 54-year-old businesswoman from Ampang.

Irene said the family was shocked by the incident because Kasim was known as a friendly and nice person. "There was no reason for anybody to shoot him. He never made enemies and was the type who liked to help people." Irene said they were divorced two years ago, but they still had a good relationship.

"He had been commuting regularly between here and Kuala Lumpur for six years, but decided to settle down in Sungai Golok two years ago."

- The New Straits Times / 2008-11-05

[sylviex]

Extraordinarily divergent accounts .

It appears he was one of the good guys, which takes takes great integrity and genuine courage here.

[TAWP]

So...did they walk up to his door and knock on it and then shoot him in the chest or did they shoot him in the back when he was walking back to his motorbike after he had been out having a dinner?

It's like reading the script from two different movies and trying to figure out the plot...

Edited November 5, 2008 by TAWP

[Scott]

So much for investigative journalism in Thailand. Or so much investigative work by the police. Sad really, someone dies and they can't even get it straight or close to straight.

[sriracha john]

When Kasim opened the door, one of the assassins opened fire. Kasim, shot in the chest, died on the spot. The two assassins fled the scene before neighbours who heard the gunshot could react.

Sungai Golok Police Chief Phamong Sall confirmed the incident

Sungai Golok Deputy Police Chief Wan Seman Wan Salleh said the killer was in the same restaurant with Kasim.

The Police Chief and the Deputy Police Chief need to be introduced to each other...

[Chang_paarp]

At least they did not decree it to be suicide.

RIP Kasim

[Scott]

Do we know where he was killed yet? Are they sure they have right guy?

[Gravelrash]

At least they did not decree it to be suicide.

RIP Kasim

Don't get ahead of yourself, they haven't produced their report yet.

[Sathip2008]

Retirement in Sungai Golok... Why there ? RIP

[sriracha john]

Scores pay last respects to piracy buster

SUNGAI GOLOK (Thailand): Streams of mourners have been coming to the Tong Dee Pracham temple to pay their last respects to noted anti-piracy campaigner Kasim Cha Tong who was murdered on Monday.

Long lines of people from as far as Singapore were at the temple in Waeng Road to offer their condolences to the former police officer's former wife, Irene Hooi, sons Viharn, 28, and Virapol, 22, and daughter Vichittra, 25.

Kasim's children were reluctant to speak to the media, but Hooi expressed her gratitude for helping spread news of his death. She said the family had been deluged with phone calls from well-wishers expressing their condolences, shock and disbelief since the news was reported on Wednesday.

"They've been sending flowers and wreaths and people have been coming from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Singapore to visit him here.

"We are so grateful for their concern and kindness. This shows that they liked and appreciated him." Hooi said her former husband had contributed a lot towards the anti-piracy effort in Malaysia. "He was a kind man and had served his community well. We hope the police will be able to wrap up their investigations and find the killer soon," she said.

Hooi said Kasim would be cremated today, but the family had not decided whether to keep the ashes here, where Kasim was born and still has many relatives, or in Kuala Lumpur.

Among the mourners yesterday was Kasim's former assistant, Ram Singh Gill, 56, who now runs his own property consulting firm in Subang Jaya. Ram, who worked with Kasim for 20 years during his stint in the International Federation of Phonograph Industry (IFPI), said they had been friends since the 1970s and still kept in touch after he retired and moved here.

"The last I saw him was two years ago when he came to Kuala Lumpur to visit his children. I was shocked when I got the call from the family about his death. He was a dedicated person who got on well with people from all walks of life. He was a low-profile person and preferred working behind the scenes. He often allowed others to grab the limelight, yet he was generous with his experience and expertise and cooperated with the various ministries and government agencies."

Kasim was gunned down on Monday night after having dinner at a restaurant here. The lone gunman, who was armed with a sawed-off shotgun, was believed to have also been at the restaurant, waiting for his chance. He escaped in the confusion following the shooting.

Sungai Golok Deputy Police Chief Sub-Colonel Wan Seman Wan Salleh said yesterday police had yet to ascertain the motive behind the killing.

"We are exploring the possibility it was motivated by revenge over the victim's former or current business dealings. The victim was previously involved in the anti-piracy campaign and could have made a lot of enemies then. It could also be related to his current business here," he said. Wan Seman said police had yet to identify the killer, who shot Kasim once in the back.

The 56-year-old Kasim, also known as Kasim Ratanawongse, was a former policeman and Anti-Corruption Agency officer. He made his name as an anti-piracy campaigner with the Ifpi in the early 1980s as its deputy regional director.

He was also a director of the Motion Pictures Export Association of America and became a household name when he led numerous anti-piracy operations.

- The New Straits Times / 2008-11-07

[TAWP]

So one gun-man with sawed off shotgun, shot him in the back. Not two men walking up to his house and shooting him in the chest... I wonder where the Malaysian newspaper The Star got their info from.

[sriracha john]

So one gun-man with sawed off shotgun, shot him in the back. Not two men walking up to his house and shooting him in the chest... I wonder where the Malaysian newspaper The Star got their info from.

from the guy that is the boss of the guy that says one gunman shot him in the back with a shotgun...

When Kasim opened the door, one of the assassins opened fire. Kasim, shot in the chest, died on the spot. The two assassins fled the scene before neighbours who heard the gunshot could react.

Sungai Golok Police Chief Phamong Sall confirmed the incident

Sungai Golok Deputy Police Chief Wan Seman Wan Salleh said the killer was in the same restaurant with Kasim.

The Police Chief and the Deputy Police Chief need to be introduced to each other... :D

[Bagwan]

So the police chief is a Lieutenant and his deputy a Lieutenant Colonel? Aahh = I forgot. TIT