Thailand's D S I Considers More Charges For Doctor

[webfact]

CRIME

DSI considers more charges for doctor

THE NATION

Thanim

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is gathering evidence to press human-trafficking charges against Pol Colonel Supat Laohawattana, who has been linked to the murder of three people after skeletons were found at his ranch in Phetchaburi province.

Pol Maj Col Waranant Srilam, who oversees DSI special cases, said he had told his subordinates to get details about Suphat's case from chief investigator, Police Region 7 Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Hanpol Nitwibool, so the DSI can launch a separate probe.

He explained that this was necessary because the case is complicated and involves a high-ranking officer. He added that the DSI might even end up taking over the case from the police.

Supat has been suspended from his duties at the Police General Hospital and is in court custody.

Waranant also said that DSI investigators might summon Supat's brother Suthep, who provided information that led to the discovery of the skeletons in the ranch, for questioning because more evidence is needed to determine whether Supat was indeed responsible for the three deaths. Of the three skeletons found, two are believed to be of a couple that were reported missing three years ago.

Meanwhile, Suthep's lawyer Polakorn Saengwehat produced two witnesses at the Central Juvenile and Family Court to testify in a case filed by Supat, in which he declared that his mother Thanim was mentally incompetent and that he should become her guardian.

The witnesses were Lt-General Thawatchai Sasiprapa from the Army's medical department, and Colonel Burin Laohawattana, Suthep's son.

In his testimony, Thawatchai said Thanim - who is being treated at Mongkutklao Hospital - was perfectly competent and did not suffer from Alzheimer's as claimed by Supat.

Polakorn said that Supat had filed this case without consulting his siblings and that Suthep was willing to fight back because he believed his mother was healthy. He said that if the court does believe that she needs guardians, then all four siblings should look after her, because that is her wish. The lawyer added that Suthep might be called to testify if the court so desires.

Hanpol, who is chief investigator of the case, said police are waiting for DNA results from the Forensic Institute before they press any additional charges against Supat.

Meanwhile, Supat's third wife Wilsa Chantornbanchorn, who is also a suspect, has contacted police promising to turn herself in.

Separately, police will ask the court for a search warrant to investigate whether more people are buried at Supat's ranch.

Police are also testing the guns found in the suspect's home to determine if any of them were used in any crimes.

Pol Colonel Pichai Pokpong, superintendent at Petchaburi's Tha Yang district, said that officers had been deployed outside Supat's ranch and home and told to keep watch for any movements.

Separately, a two-minute-long YouTube clip, posted by "bajobinka", showed Thanim saying: "If anyone wants to buy the house, I will sell it. Let him go and live where he wants. He will kill me if he knows I want to sell the house, because he has nowhere to go. Tua [supat] is very mean. He does not love me even though I brought him up and gave him lots of money…"

Suthep later confirmed that the woman in the clip was indeed his mother and that the recording had been made by his sister and posted on the Net. Suthep said he needed another two or three days to take care of his mother before he can provide testimony about the couple that disappeared.

Meanwhile, Mae Hong Son Senator Bunsong Kowawisarat, chairman of a Senate sub-committee on public complaints, said he suspected that Supat and the missing couple had had an ongoing conflict about land.

He said that three years ago, local residents had filed a complaint about disputes with Supat, who claimed that a land plot in the area was his private property, while locals wanted the panel to check if the land officials had issued illegal title deeds. The committee resolved that state agencies would check on the dispute.

"I will ask concerned agencies to follow up on the request. Local people and officials live in fear of Supat,'' he said.

-- The Nation 2012-09-26

[asiawatcher]

A very complicated case of family feud, murder, land ownership and now claims of human trafficking. It did not explain or even rally approach the headline about Human Trafficking. I love the way it did claim, a high ranking Police Official may be involved. I bet there is a wolle batch of them and like the Alpine case, of course there is the question of subverting ownership of land. It continues to amaze me at the people in power who can thumb their nose at the law and think they can get away with it. And in many cases they do. This one is a bit hard to argue their way out I would think.

[Fozfromoz]

What's the difference between court custody, and police custody?

[Seri]

"Separately, police will ask the court for a search warrant to investigate whether more people are buried at Supat's ranch."

They found 3 skelettons already but need a warrant to continue searching.

[Colabamumbai]

Kidnapping workers children, hiring illegal workers and the list of charges should go on. Yet I see he is still allowed to talk to the media and retains his cell phone.

[clockman]

Miracle Thailand, moraly bankrupt. One day the hammer will fall