Thai Democrat MP Khanchit Sought In Murder Case

[webfact]

CRIME

Democrat Khanchit sought in murder

The Nation

Police seek MP in death of Samut Sakhon Pheu Thai politician Udorn

An arrest warrant identifies the suspect in Sunday's fatal shooting of a prominent Pheu Thai-affiliated local politician in Samut Sakhon as Democrat MP Khanchit Thabsuwan.

The provincial court yesterday approved the warrant.

The sole suspect, a son of Democrat veteran Anek, a multiple-term MP for the province, was charged with the premeditated murder of Udorn Kraiwat-nusorn.

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader and opposition head, was aware of the warrant but decided not to react, pending police taking regular steps to deal with the case, party spokesman Chavanont Intharakomalsut said.

Pol Lt-General Harnphol Nijwibool, commissioner of Provincial Police Region 7, had earlier hinted about the identity of the suspect, but did not specify his active political status, describing him as "a national politician whose conflicts with victim Pheu Thai Party-affiliated Udorn Kraiwatnusorn were known".

Harnphol said later, referring to the suspect's parliamentary immunity, that police would consult with the Parliament president about proper procedures.

"The victim and the suspect were often seen nagging each other when they met. This could have multiplied their political rivalry, leading to the conclusion," he said. The suspect has left Samut Sakhon and was being tailed by undercover detectives, he added.

"He will be arrested on sight since the warrant is approved," he said.

Police are studying whether the vehicle that appeared near the scene in surveillance footage and followed the suspect had played a role or assisted in the shooting, he said.

Before Khanchit's identity emerged internally from police intelligence reports and was later confirmed, investigators relied mainly on security camera recordings showing a man resembling him firing at the victim at a petrol station in Muang district. They also had eyewitness accounts and initial forensic results from the crime scene to work with. The suspect could have met the victim by chance and committed the crime in an outburst of anger, he said. A police sketch obtained earlier from eyewitnesses has proved positively that the suspect's identity matched that of Khanchit, he said.

Udorn was the president of the Samut Sakhon Provincial Administra-tion Organisation and chairman of the Samut Sakhon football club.

A trajectory study was underway using the murder weapon, a .40 automatic permitted for use by the general public.

Udorn was shot while visiting the petrol station across from a Big C store on his way to a wedding reception, he added.

Jessadaram Temple in Muang district is hosting Udorn's funeral from yesterday to January 31.

-- The Nation 2011-12-27

[Heng]

Near sighted to say the least. It's not like there is a shortage of hitters for hire out there.

[Colin Yai]

Most likely when all the furore has died down ,due to his "political status" it will all be a big misunderstanding and he won't do one day in the slammer

[barrybankruad]

Will be interesting to see what happens here, will the police and courts pursue this matter as rigorously as they have done in prosecuting so called 'red shirt' accuseds.

[Gonzo the Face]

Typical reporting..... part fact [maybe] part fiction.

Usual reporting, no fact checking, and if you don't know the facts, just fill in something.

One news report states the victim was on the way to a wedding reception....

another news report states he was on the way to a funeral .... ironic but I can see the similarity and thus the confusion on this one, but

another report states that he is being followed by undercover authorities, ....

another report states that his where abouts is unknown

Wonder if it would make a good movie.

Any death is sad and I do offer condolences to the wife and family of the deceased.

G

[ajarnyai]

Another report said this

"After the court issues the arrest warrant for the politician, the police will seek permission from the House speaker to take legal action against the MP as he has legal immunity as a parliamentarian."

Politicians have legal immunity in Thailand? Is this for real? It would explain why the don't even bother to hide their wrongdoings.

Can the Speaker of the House deny the court, and stop them from pursuing a murder suspect?

[geriatrickid]

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader and opposition head, was aware of the warrant but decided not to react, pending police taking regular steps to deal with the case, party spokesman Chavanont Intharakomalsut said.

TVF would have erupted in angry comments from the anti government contingent if the killer was alleged to have been PTP and PM Yingluck not reacted. Why the double standard here?

[beano2274]

There should be no legal immunity for Politicians, if you commit a crime you pay for it, not hide behind a wall of immunity. It is about time the law was rewritten so they have no immunity from prosecution.

[whybother]

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader and opposition head, was aware of the warrant but decided not to react, pending police taking regular steps to deal with the case, party spokesman Chavanont Intharakomalsut said.

TVF would have erupted in angry comments from the anti government contingent if the killer was alleged to have been PTP and PM Yingluck not reacted. Why the double standard here?

Because he is the opposition leader and can't actually do anything. He isn't like Chalerm coming out with a verdict before the police have even started their investigation.

[theanimaster]

DO we have the same retarded laws in the US and the UK? That, if you are an MP you can get away with murder (literally)?

No wonder the guy took a hands-on approach to matters.

[OzMick]

Will be interesting to see what happens here, will the police and courts pursue this matter as rigorously as they have done in prosecuting so called 'red shirt' accuseds.

Weng, Nattuwat, Jatuporn and others are charged with terrorism (which resulted in 91 deaths) and have not been prosecuted because of their MP status. One can only hope that the prosecution is somewhat more rigorous than seen so far - quite likely, he's on the Opposition benches. Of course, they could always scrap the MP immunity laws. (That was a joke, son!)

You might also reflect on the fact that he committed his alleged crime AFTER being elected, and wasn't awarded his seat as a reward for committing (alleged) crimes.

Edited December 27, 2011 by OzMick

[Lite Beer]

Democrat MP Kanchit turns himself in following issuance of arrest warrant for murder of Samut Sakhon PAO chief/TAN_Network

[whybother]

Democrat MP Kanchit turns himself in following issuance of arrest warrant for murder of Samut Sakhon PAO chief/TAN_Network

What?? He didn't do a runner?? He'd never cut it as a red shirt.

[Reasonableman]

Legislators in countries using the Westminster system, such as the United Kingdom, are protected from civil action for slander and libel by parliamentary immunity whilst they are in the House. This protection is known as parliamentary privilege. Parliamentary immunity from criminal prosecution is not enjoyed by Members of Parliament under the Westminster system. This lack of criminal immunity is derived from the key tenet of the British Constitution that all are equal before the law.

[phiphidon]

Democrat MP Kanchit turns himself in following issuance of arrest warrant for murder of Samut Sakhon PAO chief/TAN_Network

What?? He didn't do a runner?? He'd never cut it as a red shirt.

No Red Shirts who "have done a runner" have been directly implicated in the murder of a fellow MP so the comparison hardly stands does it?

[TAWP]

If he is guilty, I hope he goes away for long.

No excuse, get rid of all garbage.

[weka]

Democrat MP Kanchit turns himself in following issuance of arrest warrant for murder of Samut Sakhon PAO chief/TAN_Network

What?? He didn't do a runner?? He'd never cut it as a red shirt.

No Red Shirts who "have done a runner" have been directly implicated in the murder of a fellow MP so the comparison hardly stands does it?

No the comparison only stands with the Deputy PM's son...that good enough for you?

MP. Policeman, same same

[whybother]

Democrat MP Kanchit turns himself in following issuance of arrest warrant for murder of Samut Sakhon PAO chief/TAN_Network

What?? He didn't do a runner?? He'd never cut it as a red shirt.

No Red Shirts who "have done a runner" have been directly implicated in the murder of a fellow MP so the comparison hardly stands does it?

You're going to get picky about the type of crime before they do a runner???

[TAWP]

Why is the Red Shirt apologists not pledging to oppose ALL bad politicians?

'I used to believe in peaceful Red Shirts, then I took an arrow in the knee.'

[phiphidon]

Democrat MP Kanchit turns himself in following issuance of arrest warrant for murder of Samut Sakhon PAO chief/TAN_Network

What?? He didn't do a runner?? He'd never cut it as a red shirt.

No Red Shirts who "have done a runner" have been directly implicated in the murder of a fellow MP so the comparison hardly stands does it?

No the comparison only stands with the Deputy PM's son...that good enough for you?

MP. Policeman, same same

Was the Deputy PM's son a Red Shirt? No, so I'm afraid it's not good enough for me.

[phiphidon]

Democrat MP Kanchit turns himself in following issuance of arrest warrant for murder of Samut Sakhon PAO chief/TAN_Network

What?? He didn't do a runner?? He'd never cut it as a red shirt.

No Red Shirts who "have done a runner" have been directly implicated in the murder of a fellow MP so the comparison hardly stands does it?

You're going to get picky about the type of crime before they do a runner???

Not picky , Just tired of the endless dragging in of Red Shirts/Thaksin/Yingluck et al into every f****** thread that appears on this forum. And Yes I know it was a PTP MP that was murdered but give it a rest.

[chuang]

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader and opposition head, was aware of the warrant but decided not to react, pending police taking regular steps to deal with the case, party spokesman Chavanont Intharakomalsut said.

TVF would have erupted in angry comments from the anti government contingent if the killer was alleged to have been PTP and PM Yingluck not reacted. Why the double standard here?

Everytime i log on to TVF i see yellow...

[animatic]

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader and opposition head, was aware of the warrant but decided not to react, pending police taking regular steps to deal with the case, party spokesman Chavanont Intharakomalsut said.

TVF would have erupted in angry comments from the anti government contingent if the killer was alleged to have been PTP and PM Yingluck not reacted. Why the double standard here?

There is every reason to be angry with this turd also.

There is no double standard, if he did the guy as described,

then he is an evil idiot and should be off the streets.

Of course we don't know what ELSE is going on between these two.

This may well have been the tit for the others tat.

But we need to see what happens in the follow up.

[animatic]

Why is the Red Shirt apologists not pledging to oppose ALL bad politicians?

'I used to believe in peaceful Red Shirts, then I took an arrow in the knee.'

Righty O!

All politicians are very, very bad,

except those you profit on.

[animatic]

....

Not picky , Just tired of the endless dragging in of Red Shirts/Thaksin/Yingluck et al into every f****** thread that appears on this forum. And Yes I know it was a PTP MP that was murdered but give it a rest.

And more so tired the endless defending of the indefensible actions of far too many redshirts and blatantly corrupt TRT/PPP/PTP politicians, like a thoughtlessly repeated drone here. LIke a greek chorus of sheeple bleating alleged, yet incorrect factoids, endlessly.

Edited December 27, 2011 by animatic

[473geo]

....

Not picky , Just tired of the endless dragging in of Red Shirts/Thaksin/Yingluck et al into every f****** thread that appears on this forum. And Yes I know it was a PTP MP that was murdered but give it a rest.

And more so tired the endless defending of the indefensible actions of far too many redshirts and blatantly corrupt TRT/PPP/PTP politicians, like a thoughtlessly repeated drone here. LIke a greek chorus of sheeple bleating alleged, yet incorrect factoids, endlessly.

And your comment about the accused, in a previous post above, is doing what exactly

"Of course we don't know what ELSE is going on between these two.

This may well have been the tit for the others tat."

Surely not "defending of the indefensible actions"

[sparebox2]

It must be a mistake.

Like Mark, most of the democrates are good people.

[Colin Yai]

Another report said this

"After the court issues the arrest warrant for the politician, the police will seek permission from the House speaker to take legal action against the MP as he has legal immunity as a parliamentarian."

Politicians have legal immunity in Thailand? Is this for real? It would explain why the don't even bother to hide their wrongdoings.

Can the Speaker of the House deny the court, and stop them from pursuing a murder suspect?

Apparently only in Thailand!!

[sfm]

DO we have the same retarded laws in the US and the UK? That, if you are an MP you can get away with murder (literally)?

No wonder the guy took a hands-on approach to matters.

We do, MPs have parliamentary immunity, which must be revoked either by supreme court or the parliament itself.

The original idea was to avoid the police taking action against a politician for political reasons, like arresting a politician on false charges two weeks before an election.

Usually the parliament revoke the immunity instantly, from day to day, if a politician is suspected of a serious crime.

Google for "parliamentary immunity revoked"

No politician in the west would dream about voting against, it would be the end of his career within any party.

Here it might be an entirely different matter, as Thais do not seem to have a problem with notorious criminals, or their supporters, in their parliament.

[geriatrickid]

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Democrat Party leader and opposition head, was aware of the warrant but decided not to react, pending police taking regular steps to deal with the case, party spokesman Chavanont Intharakomalsut said.

TVF would have erupted in angry comments from the anti government contingent if the killer was alleged to have been PTP and PM Yingluck not reacted. Why the double standard here?

Because he is the opposition leader and can't actually do anything. He isn't like Chalerm coming out with a verdict before the police have even started their investigation.

He could express "shock", or he could at least say he was saddened by the apparent murder by one of his Democrat MPS, or he could remove the man from his caucus pending the inquiry. At the very least the Democrat MP should not be allowed to sit with the Democrats. That is not asking too much is it? The failure to ask the accused to resign from caucus until the murder allegation is resolved is what a responsible leader would do.