Three Arrested In The Killing Of Chachoengsao Activist Prajob

[Lite Beer]

Three arrested in the killing of Chachoengsao activist Prajob
Kwanhathai Malakan
The Nation on Sunday

National Police chief Adul Saengsingkaew yesterday announced the arrest of two air force personnel and a Department of Industrial Works senior official for the murder of Chachoengsao environmental activist Prajob Naowa-opas on February 25.

While the alleged hitman has reportedly confessed, the alleged hirer and getaway driver denied wrongdoing and said they would testify only in court.

Phuthon Kavipan, 42, a C-8 official at the department's Water Management Office was accused as the hirer, while Sergeant Yutthanai Najaeng, 32, was accused of being the getaway vehicle driver and gun provider and Sergeant Anu Boonpeng, 29, was accused of being the hitman.

After their arrest warrants were issued on Wednesday, police arrested the three on Friday at their residences. Yutthanai was nabbed along with a pistol, four bullet magazines, 11 bullets, a shotgun with eight bullets, eight cell phones and 37 other assets. On Friday night, police also seized a Honda Civic sedan at the airforce flat's parking lot in Bangkok's Don Muang district as it was suspected to be the getaway car.

Adul praised the speedy work by the Provincial police Region 2 in this high-profile case and affirmed that there was solid evidence against the suspects.

Provincial police Region 2 chief Winai Thongsong said police was gathering evidence as it was suspected that another Sergeant was involved in this case.

Winai said the Prajob murder stemmed from a personal conflict and a dispute over an industrial factory releasing chemical and wastewater into a water source that the villagers used. Prajob, as village headman, had led protests by villagers leading to fistfights and lawsuits on many occasions.

Winai said that Phuthon would be detained at Chachoengsao Court later yesterday while the other two would be in legal custody until tomorrow.

Anu reportedly confessed that they were hired for Bt1 million to kill Prajob. According to his confession, Yutthanai bought the car and the gun for Bt300,000 while Anu himself got his share of Bt300,000 cash. He claimed they followed Prajob three times, each time lasting almost a week, and stayed in constant contact with Phuthon. During the third round of trailing the victim, from February 18-25, they stayed at a hotel in Chachoengsao before the murder. Anu claimed the sedan carried a fake licence plate, which was disposed of in Nakhon Nayok, and the gun was dropped at a military department to cover the crime.

Prajob's wife Arunrat Naowa-opas, 41, who was accompanied by family members and 80 villagers, offered a flower basket and mangoes to thank the police.

She said she was sure the police had arrested her husband's killers because, 2-3 weeks before he died, Prajob had told her that if he died if would be because of Phuthon as he didn't have conflicts with the others. She said they had argued many times after Prajob protested against the illegal dumping of toxic industrial waste at a garbage in their community in Nong Nae subdistrict. Prajob had to face a libel suit but the court dismissed the lawsuit.

-- The Nation 2013-04-14

[arthurboy]

Good news.

One is a senior civil servant (C8 level) in the Industry Ministry, while the other two are serving members of the Royal Thai Air Force.

Corruption, collusion and murder from the very people whose job it is is to serve the country.

Who are their masters, and is anyone surprised?

[reiltin]

I remember his murder,brave guy standing up only to be so cruely silenced,good news for his family,let's hope justice is done and they get what they deserve.

[rametindallas]

Seems the threshold is very low to take out a contract killing on someone in Thailand. I don't know what techniques they use but the Thai Police have a very high rate of confessions and ratting out coconspirators compared to the U.S.. I wish this would be a warning against murder for hire but Thailand is a poor country and there will always be people who will do anything for money. I hope justice is done for the village and the industrial waste dumpers are prosecuted also. Prajob was a brave man for standing up for his village and against the powers-that-be. RIP Prajob.

[Locationthailand]

A senseless loss of life for greed and law breakers. The industrialists should be committed as accessory to the crime as after all, no matter who pulled the trigger, it was for their benefit and no doubt at their request directly or indirectly.

[sjjmmi]

Now is real news for a change well done BIB for a change

[pilm]

Politics and business in Buddhist Thailand.

[hellodolly]

Good news.

One is a senior civil servant (C8 level) in the Industry Ministry, while the other two are serving members of the Royal Thai Air Force.

Corruption, collusion and murder from the very people whose job it is is to serve the country.

Who are their masters, and is anyone surprised?

Given the facts about the pollution and his attempts to get the government involved in some thing they should have stopped with out being asked might lead one to believe there was also political maneuvering in the whole thing.

Sorry about my paranoia I still have a little of it from living in the states,

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

So $35,000 U.S. to kill someone, and have it done by a couple of serving military guys to boot.

I wonder if the Department of Industrial Works guy paid out of his own pocket, or he simply was the procurer for private industrial interests that perhaps had more direct and compelling business reasons (greed) for wanting the protest leader dead?

Meanwhile, this is all getting very confusing. The police arrest the air force for being criminals. The Army arrest the police for being criminals. The Army steps in to enforce the law because the police won't. The police arrest each other for being criminals. Yeesh!!!!

[khunken]

So they say they've got the 3 culprits. But who hired the hirer? Methinks the real mastermind is still on the loose & maybe untouchable.

[AleG]

So $35,000 U.S. to kill someone, and have it done by a couple of serving military guys to boot.

I wonder if the Department of Industrial Works guy paid out of his own pocket, or he simply was the procurer for private industrial interests that perhaps had more direct and compelling business reasons (greed) for wanting the protest leader dead?

I'd think so, why else would a bureaucrat want to murder the man or have the money to pay for the hit?

Meanwhile, this is all getting very confusing. The police arrest the air force for being criminals. The Army arrest the police for being criminals. The Army steps in to enforce the law because the police won't. The police arrest each other for being criminals. Yeesh!!!!

The only thing missing is a ragtime piano playing along. Edited April 14, 2013 by AleG

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

why else would a bureaucrat want to murder the man or have the money to pay for the hit?

Perhaps the same way the former permanent transport minister amassed 65 million baht or so in questionable, allegedly illegal assets?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/557456-suphoths-resignation-will-not-affect-probe-unusual-wealth/page-2?hl=%2Bsuphoth#entry5974470

A lot of money to be made, when officials supposedly are taking 20 or 30% off the top of transport projects or industrial projects, or pretty much anything requiring discretionary government approval.

[A Member]

Good news.

One is a senior civil servant (C8 level) in the Industry Ministry, while the other two are serving members of the Royal Thai Air Force.

Corruption, collusion and murder from the very people whose job it is is to serve the country.

Who are their masters, and is anyone surprised?

'm sure their silence is bought and paid for. Hard to believe they suddenly thought they should go out and kiil this nuisance