Russian Hit

[PattayaOneTeam]

Sordid Murder of Russian Property Developer

Reasons behind slaying still being sought

By Staff Writers

A 38-year-old Russian property developer was found brutally murdered in mid-October, but the precise motive for the slaying has yet to be determined by police, even though arrests have been made.

The decomposing body of Mr. Victor Krishin, a Russian national, was found buried in bushland not far from the Silverlake Vineyard on the southern outskirts of Pattaya after police were directed to the site by a man who was one of two men initially arrested following a shootout with officers in Banglamung.

At a press conference conducted by senior police at the Soi 9 station on 21 October, three people were paraded before the media, flanked by heavilyarmed SWAT team members. Probably a bit over the top for a press conference, but it made for a good show.

The three arrested were all Russian citizens and named as Mr. Rashif Saganov, aged 36, Mr. Dimitri Kochenko, and Miss Natasha Shepugro. They were charged with conspiracy to murder while the female was also charged with attempting to bribe a police officer with 500,000 baht in an effort to secure the release of the suspects. The money was displayed in front of the arrested trio, which might have been why the SWAT team was on hand, especially knowing how little journalists are paid.

Mr. Krishin was initially reported missing on 14 October by his 70-year-old mother, who told police she had not been able to contact her son by mobile phone, which had been turned off. Police soon found Mr. Krishin’s bank accounts were being accessed. Security camera footage showed two men making withdrawals from ATM’s. The footage was shown to Mr. Krishin’s mother who could not identify the pair.

Police then asked banks to alert them as soon as Mr. Krishin’s ATM card was used again. A bank in front of a Wat in Banglamung soon contacted police who arrived and began following a black sedan (just the colour you might expect) containing two men. When officers attempted to get the vehicle to pull over they were ignored and a chase ensued. One of the men in the car produced a gun and shot at police, who returned fire wounding one man. The men abandoned the car and attempted to escape on foot but were quickly apprehended. One of the men was identified as Rashif Saganov.

Initial reports suggested the two men confessed to having murdered Mr. Krishin after being paid US$10,000 (approximately 300,000 baht) by a Mr. Sergey Alexandrov, a 34-year-old Russian man who was Krishin’s alleged lover and business partner. They said they lured Mr. Krishin to his real estate office in Soi 6, off Pratamnak Road where they tied him up and took him to remote bushland. Here Mr. Krishin was shot in the back twice and then strangled with a length of computer cable, just to make sure he wasn’t about to make a remarkable recovery.

Police initially interviewed Mr.. Alexandrov but he was released. Then, on Thursday 21 October he was arrested and formally charged with conspiring to murder Mr. Krishin for reasons as yet unknown. Alexandrov was a director of the company established three years ago by Mr. Krishin, but he claimed not to be involved in the day-today operations of the real estate business. He claimed he was going to meet Mr. Krishin on the night of 14 October at the Hopf Brew House on Beach Road but was unable to contact his friend, whom he said he had known for 18 years. He claimed to have tried to ring his friend but Mr. Krishin’s mobile phone was turned off.

The Russian national who had been shot and wounded by police the previous day was released without charge.

Police have seized ATM cards, bank books, company accounts, mobile phones and anything else they think might be relevant in solving the mystery of just why Mr. Krishin was murdered.

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-- Pattaya One 2010-10-31

[contemplating]

Hmmmm, one of the men that were shooting at police was released! He must have had more a bit more money than they others.

[smokie36]

Half a million Baht was clearly too low.....should have brought more to the table.