Driver 'admits' killing Ekkayuth

[webfact]

CRIME
Driver 'admits' killing Ekkayuth
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The chauffeur of missing businessman Ekkayuth Anchanbutr admitted to his murder last night, former police spokesman Pol Lt General Prawut Thavornsiri, said on his Twitter account.

Two other suspects who allegedly helped Santiparb Pengduang are on the run, the sources said, without providing details on each person's role or how the murder took place. The known motive so far - as per Santiparb's confession - is that Ekkayuth fired his girlfriend. The suspect also allegedly cashed in a Bt5-million cheque that was signed by the tycoon.

An unidentified source said that Santiparb was flown to Phatthalung province on a helicopter so he could show the police where he allegedly dumped the businessman's body. Another report said that a search team from a Border Patrol police unit - the 434th Company - had located the body and was trying to retrieve it.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

"His existence or nonexistence is of no [interest] to the government. I am giving weight to murder, with money as a motive. I conclude he has been murdered already," said Chalerm, without offering any proof.

At a press conference earlier in the day, Santiparb had told a different story. He said that on June 6, he dropped Ekkayuth to have dinner with friends in Saphan Kwai till 11pm and drove him back to his home at Town in Town.

He said his boss ordered him to wait as he wanted him to take him to the South. He said Ekkayuth ordered him to disconnect the security cameras at his residence and Ekkayuth kept the hard disk himself. Santiparb said Ekkayuth spent the night at his sister's house in Lat Krabang district. The next morning Ekkayuth told him to drive him to Suvarna-bhumi airport where a man would bring him some cheques. He said he saw Ekkayuth sign the cheques. He also picked up more documents from a woman.

Supaporn Waenlor, Ekkayuth's sister said she did not believe Santiparb's storybecause she did not trust him. She did not believe her brother would want to go to Burma by car as he hated sitting for too long.


-- The Nation 2013-06-12

RELATED
Thai Govt Critic Ekkayuth Feared Abducted
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645474-thai-govt-critic-ekkayuth-feared-abducted/

[rametindallas]

It always amazes me how regularly the RTP get full confessions. I don't even want to guess how they accomplish this.

[I Like Thai]

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

What a weird thing to say.

[Nowhereman60]

This is one of the most confusing stories I have read in a long time. The story changes each time you read about it. I wonder what happen to the 5 million baht he withdrawn from the bank. I guess the moral of the story is don't fire your driver's girlfriend.

[apetley]

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

 

What a weird thing to say.

Exactly what I was thinking.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[NongKhaiKid]

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

What a weird thing to say.

A Freudian slip perhaps ?

[Noistar]

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

What a weird thing to say.

My thoughts exactly.

I started reading the sentence, assuming naively that there would sympathies expressed to the family. Not a "wasn't us, honest guv".

The Government don't need enemies when they keep shooting themselves.

[Payboy]

Building pyramids is bad luck for sure.

[Robby nz]

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

He seems to be the only one who has suggested it so far.

Even if the suggestion was put as a denial.

[Spoonman]

It always amazes me how regularly the RTP get full confessions. I don't even want to guess how they accomplish this.

In this case the offered the lad a free helicopter ride.

[NongKhaiKid]

Yesterday this had the hallmark of a BIB special in that the spokesman said it was being treated as a possible abduction but it was too early to give a potential motive so he then went on to list four ! Shades of the Ramkhamhaeng bomb.

[bigbamboo]

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

What a weird thing to say.

My thoughts exactly.

I started reading the sentence, assuming naively that there would sympathies expressed to the family. Not a "wasn't us, honest guv".

The Government don't need enemies when they keep shooting themselves.

The sigh of relief from Chalerm was almost palpable.

[mrtoad]

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

What a weird thing to say.

You wouldn't want to play Cluedo with Chalerm. The man is crime solving genius.

[Thai at Heart]

Do people really commit crimes that they have virtually zero chance of getting away with, with no alibi, and then cave in one day of police questioning? If the plan was to kill him, why on earth go through all the rigmarole to get the money, and then drive down South and sit around waiting to get caught?

I have heard of some dim witted criminals, but .....

[bigbamboo]

Do people really commit crimes that they have virtually zero chance of getting away with, with no alibi, and then cave in one day of police questioning? If the plan was to kill him, why on earth go through all the rigmarole to get the money, and then drive down South and sit around waiting to get caught?

I have heard of some dim witted criminals, but .....

Maybe he was waiting for a landslide....?

[clockman]

Remember everything in Thailand, is an enigma!

[Thai at Heart]

Do people really commit crimes that they have virtually zero chance of getting away with, with no alibi, and then cave in one day of police questioning? If the plan was to kill him, why on earth go through all the rigmarole to get the money, and then drive down South and sit around waiting to get caught?

I have heard of some dim witted criminals, but .....

Maybe he was waiting for a landslide....?

As much as I loathe her, maybe this one for Pornthip to sink her teeth into. Now that would be fun to watch..

[farang000999]

Why would this super rich businessman have a 25 year old crazy driver? Don't these type of mogul guys have like super-qualified intellectual highly trained and well paid confidants to be their drivers?

[Thai at Heart]

Why would this super rich businessman have a 25 year old crazy driver? Don't these type of mogul guys have like super-qualified intellectual highly trained and well paid confidants to be their drivers?

It's possible that "Fired his girlfriend" is a euphemism.......

[Thaddeus]

Why would this super rich businessman have a 25 year old crazy driver? Don't these type of mogul guys have like super-qualified intellectual highly trained and well paid confidants to be their drivers?

Can't get work permits for them.

[webfact]

Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat denies military involvement in disappearance of businessman Akeyuth Anchanbutr /MCOT

[EvilDrSomkid]

This case was fishy from day one. Now that buffoonbossman has opened his mouth it is become downright rank.

Issuing a complete denial and closing the case? Hmm, seems more like a lesson for other "critics" to take heed of.

A democratically elected kleptocratic junta. People disappearing, even famous one, barely veiled censorship attacks on others.

Yep, sounds more like a dictatorship every day.

Edited June 12, 2013 by EvilDrSomkid

[Curt1591]

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

He seems to be the only one who has suggested it so far.

Even if the suggestion was put as a denial.

The news "report" of his "abduction" stressed that he was a "government critic". I think government involvement had been suggested.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/645474-thai-govt-critic-ekkayuth-feared-abducted/

[cup-O-coffee]

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

What a weird thing to say.

The whole thing is weird. If the government took him out, then why would they bother to make a big melodrama out of this? Wouldn't it be better to just ignore it and see if any villagers and peasants give a hoot about this missing businessman; because I doubt they would.

I think these murder melodramas are staged because the government and police and other businessmen are afraid they won't be remembered by the majority who don't give a hoot whether they are dead or alive.

And when I really think about it, does anyone care about this businessman or any of these kind of people and whether they live or die. They are all crooks and scum who don't give a dam_n about me when they are among the living. On the one hand, they get what they think they deserve; and on the other hand, they get what I think they deserve. The only difference being they and I usually don't like what the other thinks is deserved.

I give a toss about them all.

Edited June 12, 2013 by cup-O-coffee

[BuddyPinkham]

It always amazes me how regularly the RTP get full confessions. I don't even want to guess how they accomplish this.

I agree, all I can think of is the individual is being paid to take the rap of a government cover-up."His existence or nonexistence is of no [interest] to the government. I am giving weight to murder, with money as a motive. I conclude he has been murdered already," said Chalerm, without offering any proof.) is just a very weird statement to make. I know, just another conspiracy theory

[webfact]

Missing businessman's driver admits killing boss
By English News



BANGKOK, June 12 -- The driver of missing businessman Akeyuth Anchanbutr admitted killing his boss and burying his body in the southern province of Phatthalung.

Santiphap Pengduang, who worked with Mr Akeyuth for six months, confessed to police during a tense interrogation that he had murdered the outspoken businessman in order to rob Bt5 million cash and he was angry that Mr Akeyuth had fired his girlfriend from her job.

Mr Akeyuth was believed to have withdrawn Bt5 million from a bank before he disappeared on Thursday.

Mr Santiphap, arrested in Samut Songkhram Monday night, appeared at a news conference at the Metropolitan Police Command and denied any involvement in Mr Akeyuth’s disappearance.

The driver reportedly was taken to Songkhla's Hat Yai airport by air and was flown to Phatthalung by helicopter to show police where he allegedly dumped the businessman's body.

Mr Santiphap earlier said that he shot his boss but later said that he strangled him.

Two other men allegedly helped Santiparb in hiding Mr Akeyuth's body. One, identified as Chawalit Woonchum, was arrested while in hiding on Libong Island in Trang.

A third suspect, identified as Prakarn Songkhao, was still at large.

Meanwhile, Suwat Apaipak, Akeyuth's lawyer, said he has sent his legal team to observe the search for his client’s body in Phatthalung.

However, he said he believed that Mr Akeyuth was murdered but he did not believe that Mr Santiphap’s motive for the killing was to get cash.

Mr Suwat quoted Mr Santiphap as saying he was hired by a person named Piak. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-06-12

[jbrain]

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

What a weird thing to say.

Wasn't Ekkayuth the key witness in the case against Yingluck Shinawatra regarding her meeting at the Four Seasons hotel ?

[monty1412]

when I read Chalerm's comment the first thing that popped into my head was the immediate Taliban response after 9-11.... while the Taliban didn't directly do the evil deed they sure were harbouring and aiding those who did... different scale of things of course and not trying to relate the two rather the analogy .. the lady doth protest too much comes to mind

[CelticBhoy]

Santiphap isn't quite the right name for a murderer now, is it?

[gemini81]

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung spoke out for the first time on the case last night, saying: "The government and state officials had nothing to do with his disappearance."

What a weird thing to say.

Wasn't Ekkayuth the key witness in the case against Yingluck Shinawatra regarding her meeting at the Four Seasons hotel ?

Yep. Don't believe it was the driver, but if in fact it was....too bad he wasn't Chalerm's driver!

When police are electrocuting your privates, you'll confess to about anything. Or offered a 2 million baht sum, like the staff at the Red bull family residence.

PTP & Chalerm have a poor reputation which precedes them & more motive than some driver with a supposed grudge suddenly decided to seize cash.