Ekkayuth's body found; theft motive disputed
The Nation



Victim's lawyer says case political; 4th man sought

PHATTHALUNG: -- Mystery still surrounds the murder of businessman and government critic Ekkayuth Anchanbutr, whose body was found in the southern province of Phatthalung yesterday.

Questions regarding a motive for the murder remain unanswered, as observers and his lawyer say they're unconvinced by the alleged perpetrator's claim that he murdered Ekkayuth for his Bt5 million.

Ekkayuth's naked body was found buried in an orchard in Phatthalung's Muang district yesterday afternoon. His 25-year-old chauffeur Santiparb Pengduang, who has allegedly admitted to killing his employer for Bt5 million, and suspected accomplices Chavalit Wunchum, 23, and Thiwakorn Kuathong, 19, led police to the location where they had allegedly buried the body.

There were marks on the victim's neck showing he had been strangled, according to police. There were no traces of assault on other parts of his body.

The body, found about half a metre below ground level, had begun to decompose and police said the death occurred four to five days ago. Ekkayuth's family members identified the body, and it was sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok for formal identification.

The digging up of the body was carried out in the presence of several reporters and photographers, as well as hundreds of local residents.

Police, meanwhile, would focus their investigation on theft as the main motive although they would also pay attention to other possible motives, according to Metropolitan Police commander Pol Lt-General Kamronwit Thoopkrajang. He said investigators would interrogate the three suspects further as they gave inconsistent details regarding certain matters, such as how they dealt with his clothes after he was killed. Some suspects said the clothes were thrown away and others said they were burnt, according to Kamronwit.

Police are still hunting for a fourth suspect, Santiparb's friend who was still on the run, Kamronwit said.

A police source from the South said that the investigation showed that Ekkayuth was strangled to death.

The Criminal Court yesterday endorsed arrest warrants against four people allegedly involved in the murder - Santiparb, Chavalit, Thiwakorn and Prakarn Songkhao, 24. They were charged with robbery and murder, illegal detention and concealment of a body.

Ekkayuth's lawyer Suwat Apaipak said yesterday he believed Santiparb was only a pawn in a plot to murder Ekkayuth. He said it was found that Santiparb had worked for a senior Army officer known for his mafia background.

The lawyer said he was not convinced money was the real motive for the murder.

"I think the real motive should have something to do with politics," he said.

Opposition leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he also was not convinced that money was the real motive. He called on the police to deal with the case in a transparent and careful manner.

Shortly before his death, Ekkayuth posted on his Facebook page allegations of tax evasion and money laundering against certain politicians. He was also a staunch critic of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the current government.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday "there was nothing complex" about the case, adding that money was the real motive for the murder.

Meanwhile, Santiparb's father, Sergeant Itthipol Pengduang, allegedly confessed to his supervisors that his son gave him a sum of money taken from Ekkayuth and that he had put the money into the care of a relative in Songkhla, according to Army deputy spokesman Colonel Winthai Suwari.

He said Itthipol was now in the military's custody.


-- The Nation 2013-06-13

Whodunnit?

However, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday "there was nothing complex" about the case, adding that money was the real motive for the murder.

Hahaha it's ok chaps, DPM Super Chalerm has his finger on the... errr... bottle... I mean... pulse...

Ha ha ha , and the UN wants human rights in Thailand, regardless of whodunit and why , can the PTP administration guarantee the safety of it's citizens and tourists in Thailand and if not why not.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday "there was nothing complex" about the case, adding that money was the real motive for the murder.

Hahaha it's ok chaps, DPM Super Chalerm has his finger on the... errr... bottle... I mean... pulse...

Even if he's right, how does he know?

Personally I have my doubts whether this is political in spite of Chalerm's clumsy comments. When is he ever circumspect about anything anyway?

Why would anyone hire these amateurs and crucially allow the body to be found. It's not like the Muslim lawyer case where a coordinated effort involving trained police officers was put together by someone with a lot of influence and no body was ever found, so technically there was no murder case to answer.

Wasn't this guy extremely rich?

His family could employ the best forensic and detective team money can buy (outside of Thailand)

Surely if there's something rotten in Denmark this story isn't going to go away quickly?

The driver may not be that sharp, but I hardly think he's going to go in person to the airport to receive the 5 million baht and then kill Ekkayuth without someone behind him forcing or persuading him.

He was obviously a person of 'major interest' to the police once he received that 5 million baht.

Perhaps something along the lines-' We'll take good care of you and your family, you'll have that 5 million baht and we'll make sure you're not too long behind bars'.

I have to say I agree with the comments of Abhisit as quoted in the report.There is something about with the glib conclusions on motivation and the intervention of Chalerm that doesn't feel right.The "cui bono" approach in these matters isn't infallible but the implications of "who benefits" need to be carefully considered.What is needed of course is a thorough police investigation without interference.At this stage nothing can be ruled out.

Hope I haven't got this wrong because i wasn't paying full attention but IN Channel at 07.00 said something about the driver having changed his story and being linked to a senior army officer.

Chalerm solved this yesterday, no need for anymore investigation

He said it was found that Santiparb had worked for a senior Army officer known for his mafia background.

If this is "known", why aren't they investigating this Senior Army Officer anyway? Am damn sure this isn't (solely) about the money . . .

Hope I haven't got this wrong because i wasn't paying full attention but IN Channel at 07.00 said something about the driver having changed his story and being linked to a senior army officer.

I find the idea of a senior army officer wanting a critic of the current government silenced highly unbelievable.

I find the idea of a gullible culprit being being persuaded to change his story to shift blame elsewhere much more believable,

Especially as there has been a change of story.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday "there was nothing complex" about the case, adding that money was the real motive for the murder.

It would be normal practice for any minister to come out saying "We'll leave no stone unturned in this investigation - we'll rule nothing out". Chalerm's statement is a classic tactic to divert the course of the investigation down one route, which should ring alarm bells. Sadly, as this is Thailand, the truth will never be known for sure

Shortly before his death, Ekkayuth posted on his Facebook page allegations of tax evasion and money laundering against certain politicians. He was also a staunch critic of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the current government.

I'm not into conspiracy theories, but if the above is correct then it is just pure coincidence he got whacked?

These suspects will also be gone very soon before they sing the right tune

I have to say I agree with the comments of Abhisit as quoted in the report.There is something about with the glib conclusions on motivation and the intervention of Chalerm that doesn't feel right.The "cui bono" approach in these matters isn't infallible but the implications of "who benefits" need to be carefully considered.What is needed of course is a thorough police investigation without interference.At this stage nothing can be ruled out.

Isn't K. Ekkayuth the only witness to Madam Yingluck's secret rendezvous with the Sansiri developer in a hotel room? Doesn't Madam Yingluck have a defamation case in the courts against three Democrats for repeating K. Ekkayuth's story. Might that be a motive for 'someone' interested in protecting the P.M.'s reputation? Wouldn't is help her case if the only witness can not be called to testify in defense of the Democrats?

Wasn't this guy extremely rich?

His family could employ the best forensic and detective team money can buy (outside of Thailand)

Surely if there's something rotten in Denmark this story isn't going to go away quickly?

At the end of the day, the guy was a con-man who ripped a lot of people off and then skipped the country until the statute of limitations made it impossible to prosecute him on return.

The list of people out to get this guy is huge.

As for him being a "champion of the people" and attacking the Sinawatra dynasty - well, the people don't need champions like this.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said yesterday "there was nothing complex" about the case, adding that money was the real motive for the murder.

It would be normal practice for any minister to come out saying "We'll leave no stone unturned in this investigation - we'll rule nothing out". Chalerm's statement is a classic tactic to divert the course of the investigation down one route, which should ring alarm bells. Sadly, as this is Thailand, the truth will never be known for sure

That's exactly what he's doing. He is trying to intimidate and discourage any such investigation. Too bad him & him boss coordinate closely with police......Too bad it wasn't him to meet such a fate instead; would do the country a favor.

Santiparb had worked for a senior Army officer known for his mafia background.

Yeah, that narrows it down to about 60,000 suspects.

Shortly before his death, Ekkayuth posted on his Facebook page allegations of tax evasion and money laundering against certain politicians. He was also a staunch critic of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra and the current government.

I'm not into conspiracy theories, but if the above is correct then it is just pure coincidence he got whacked?

Of course

However, as most people know, nothing happens in this country unless someone makes a ton of money out of it.

It is just too 'convenient' for the Shin clan and Supersleuth that a major critic is suddenly murdered.

What is needed of course is a thorough police investigation without interference.

A brilliant idea.

Good to see the whole area cordoned off and non-forensic people kept away while the forensics are done thoroughly, sterile suits and all. Oh, forgot, it doesn't matter as they know it was a mugging and have caught the culprits already. Job done.

I smell another cover up.

You have to wonder about the entertainment available in Phattalung when hundreds of locals show to watch a decomposing corpse dug up.

Hmmm....upwind or down?

5 mill seems a small amount of money to kill for specially if it has to be divided up among the 4 who have been fingered.

It has been said that the driver had access to the house so there must have been opportunity to get away with a lot of valuable stuff but it seems nothing was taken except the disks from the security cameras, supposedly on Ekkayuth's orders.

That in its self must surely raise suspicion for why if they were planning to take him somewhere and kill him would they or Ekkayuth need to erase what the cameras had recorded previous to that?

Those who are posting what a bad boy Ekkayuth was for running away to avoid prosecution, consider that Chalerm did the same thing.

I have to say I agree with the comments of Abhisit as quoted in the report.There is something about with the glib conclusions on motivation and the intervention of Chalerm that doesn't feel right.The "cui bono" approach in these matters isn't infallible but the implications of "who benefits" need to be carefully considered.What is needed of course is a thorough police investigation without interference.At this stage nothing can be ruled out.

No one wants to jump to conclusions. We all know Chalerm loves the sound of his own voice and opens his mouth without engaging his brain ( what passes for one anyway ) but long before the deceased's lawyer or anyone for that matter said " political motive " there was Chalerm and his nothing to do with us statement.

This is likely to be yet another " solved " case that will leave more questions than it answers.

I told you he went south with his Lambo

5 mill seems a small amount of money to kill for specially if it has to be divided up among the 4 who have been fingered.

It has been said that the driver had access to the house so there must have been opportunity to get away with a lot of valuable stuff but it seems nothing was taken except the disks from the security cameras, supposedly on Ekkayuth's orders.

That in its self must surely raise suspicion for why if they were planning to take him somewhere and kill him would they or Ekkayuth need to erase what the cameras had recorded previous to that?

Those who are posting what a bad boy Ekkayuth was for running away to avoid prosecution, consider that Chalerm did the same thing.

I didn't say he was bad for running away. I said he was bad for ripping people off.

The guy was a scumbag.

Personally I have my doubts whether this is political in spite of Chalerm's clumsy comments. When is he ever circumspect about anything anyway?

Why would anyone hire these amateurs and crucially allow the body to be found. It's not like the Muslim lawyer case where a coordinated effort involving trained police officers was put together by someone with a lot of influence and no body was ever found, so technically there was no murder case to answer.

have you thought that maybe they wanted him to be found so as a warning to others,to KEEP THERE MOUTHS CLOSED ABOUT CORRUPTION,AND TAX EVASION,,maybe