Akeyuth murder - motive more than 'theft': Thai panel

[webfact]

AKEYUTH MURDER
Motive more than 'theft': Panel
The Nation

Human-rights body wants chief investigator to be taken off case

BANGKOK: -- The Senate panel on human rights yesterday called on the Royal Thai Police to change the chief investigator in the case involving the murder of businessman and government critic Akeyuth Anchanbutr.

Somchai Sawaengkarn, chairman of the Senate committee on human rights, liberty and consumer protection, said the chief investigator, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt-General Kamronwit Thupkrajang, had personal conflicts with Akeyuth and should be taken off the case.

The senator noted that Kamronwit and Akeyuth had sued each other in the past, and hence the former should not oversee the probe.

Somchai also called on police to allow non-partisan agencies, including the Law Society of Thailand and the National Human Rights Commission, to join in the investigation.

He said it was premature for police to conclude that Akeyuth was killed for the Bt5 million he was carrying, because his attackers did not take any other valuables from his house. Somchai said valuables on Akeyuth's property amounted to more than Bt5 million and could have been taken away far more easily.

Somchai said police had not yet released details about the house in the Lat Krabang area where the perpetrators had allegedly held Akeyuth before his murder. He said that he believed the murder was more complicated than the robbery theory put forward by the police.

He said the Senate panel had discussed the murder and agreed in principle to summon persons involved to testify.

During discussions, the Senate panel agreed that the government should provide people with better measures of protection. The senators said that though Akeyuth was disliked by many, there was no reason to murder him.

Kamronwit yesterday rejected criticism that police were not pursuing the real motive behind the murder.

After a meeting with National Police chief General Adul Saengsing-kaew on the development of the case, Kamronwit held a press conference at which he insisted that the motive behind Akeyuth's killing was the Bt5 million and that it was not politically motivated, as believed by Akeyuth's family and lawyer.

"I do not care about allegations that police are trying to wrap up the case quickly by making it a 'theft' case. Police are carrying out their duties to the best of their abilities,'' Kamronwit said.

Akeyuth's family and his lawyer had earlier said that they believed the murder was politically motivated, since the businessman had long been a critic of the government and a whistleblower against the Thaksin Shinawatra regime. His latest message posted on his Facebook page in May referred to the money-laundering activities of Thai politicians and bureaucrats in the UK.

Kamronwit said police believed four people were involved in the murder: three had been arrested and Suthipong "Berm" Pimpisal, who is a key suspect, was still at large. Police yesterday continued their hunt for him as other suspects gave statements that he was the man who strangled Akeyuth to death with rope.

Kamronwit denied reports that police had already arrested Suthi-pong, saying he was probably still somewhere in Bangkok. He added that as Suthipong was a key suspect, there were fears that he could be silenced before being apprehended.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court has allowed Ithipol Pengduang, 51 and Jitampai Pengduang, 48 - parents of Santiparb - to be released on bail of Bt100,000 each. The two have been charged with receiving stolen money between June 13-24. Santiparb reportedly gave the Bt5 million to his parents to hide. Police initially refused to grant their release on bail on grounds that most of the stolen money had not yet been found. It was feared they might destroy the evidence or flee with the stolen cash.

Kamronwit said police had so far only recovered Bt420,000 of the stolen Bt5 million.

Assistant National Police Pol Lt-General Charamporn Suramani said fingerprint test results showed that the body unearthed in Phatthalung was that of Akeyuth. DNA taken from the body also matched that of Akeyuth's family members.


-- The Nation 2013-06-14

[Roadman]

The whole case has a stench about it.

But then why would it be any different when corruption and the Amart mafia run amok, and the thai public agree with and vote for these turkeys.

[NongKhaiKid]

" Another fine mess ". This has been wrapped up very quickly and conveniently especially as only a couple of days ago several motives were being floated by police as they usually do since one will presumably be accurate.

Commonsense would dictate that the Metropolitan Police Commissioner should keep well away from this but what am I saying as TIT ?

[bigbamboo]

Given the past conflicts between Kamronwit and the victim clearly there must be a new chief investigator in this case. Anything else would smack of corrupt practice and we don't want any of that in Thailand do we?

Edited June 14, 2013 by bigbamboo

[Nowhereman60]

People have nothing better to do than to try to make a mountain out of a molehill.

[RickBradford]

Police initially refused to grant their release on bail on grounds that most of the stolen money had not yet been found. It was feared they might destroy the evidence or flee with the stolen cash.

Who, the police?

[simple1]

BKK Post states 4.2 million baht recovered, so is it a reporting error that only 420k baht found or?

[gemini81]

People have nothing better to do than to try to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Its far more than a mole hill. Read again. Its a mess.

[GentlemanJim]

Kamronwit denied reports that police had already arrested Suthi-pong, saying he was probably still somewhere in Bangkok. He added that as Suthipong was a key suspect, there were fears that he could be silenced before being apprehended.

Funny thing to say? Silenced by who,? The 3 other suspects are in custody. How can the police chief say, 'he's probably still somewhere in Bangkok'? If the guy on the run is the murderer, I bet he has been silenced already.

Edited June 14, 2013 by GentlemanJim

[CelticBhoy]

It is a sad tale, but at least the Southern Plods get a bung for a change. Must say I am impressed with the article. Spelling, grammar and punctuation all perfect. Must have nicked the story from Not the Nation.

[Tatsujin]

Respect to Somchai Sawaengkarn

[Bellweather]

I know the cases are completely different but notice how the BIB have this wrapped up and tied off with a ribbon while DSI are showing no urgency and giving a " helping hand " in the luxury cars case and ensuring suspects are not inconvenienced by having to be interviewed at a time they may have something else to do.

[bigbamboo]

People have nothing better to do than to try to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Makes a change from rice.

[Bellweather]

People have nothing better to do than to try to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Its far more than a mole hill. Read again. Its a mess.

People have nothing better to do than to try to make a mountain out of a molehill.

Its far more than a mole hill. Read again. Its a mess.

Even if this is a molehill and a " simple " robbery it's been turned into a mountain by everyone involved and nothing is ever what it seems here.

Let's start with Chalerm's haste in saying " nothing to do with us ", then the BIB advanced several motives, the driver is arrested and confesses then it's said he's linked to a senior army officer with mafia connections and the driver changes his story anyway.

Now there's confusion over a missing suspect who may have been " silenced " and the money aspect is far from clear.

Not bad for a molehill.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

If it's true the victim and the police guy heading the investigation have sued each other in the past, as is claimed in the OP news article here, then indeed the police guy has no business overseeing the investigation....

Unless, of course, this actually happens to be Thailand, where everything is fine all the time -- unless you're dead!

[GentlemanJim]

People have nothing better to do than to try to make a mountain out of a molehill.

II think actually with this case they (police & Gov) are trying to make a molehill out of a mountain!

[gemini81]

People have nothing better to do than to try to make a mountain out of a molehill.

II think actually with this case they (police & Gov) are trying to make a molehill out of a mountain!

Quite right. Tons of conflicting stories and tangled details. So as a deliberate result, no one in the general public really knows, as intended. No way am I saying conspiracy theory or anything like that. Rather, a simple case not investigated correctly here, and everyone trying to dismiss their involvement before they know any details.

[Thaddeus]

"I do not care about allegations that police are trying to wrap up the case quickly by making it a 'theft' case. Police are carrying out their duties to the best of their abilities,'' Kamronwit said.

To the best of their abilities .......

Highest bidder then.

[tragickingdom]

It would be so sweet when the human rights body would push for an inquiry in the murders of demonstrators. Oh wait, those are not Democrat Party sponsors. What about an inquiry of all people in jail who organized ponzi schemes and pyramid schemes. Wrong again, they are not billion baht Democrat Sponsors either. What goes around comes around.

[Artisi]

Wonder if the fugitive criminal and his university exam cheating off-spring are going to offer up Bht 20M for the arrest of the guilty?

[Neilly]

Wonder if the fugitive criminal and his university exam cheating off-spring are going to offer up Bht 20M for the arrest of the guilty?

He's already in the room I think

[khunken]

It would be so sweet when the human rights body would push for an inquiry in the murders of demonstrators. Oh wait, those are not Democrat Party sponsors. What about an inquiry of all people in jail who organized ponzi schemes and pyramid schemes. Wrong again, they are not billion baht Democrat Sponsors either. What goes around comes around.

That's the second time you have accused the victim of being a Democrat supporter. If you have evidence of that, share it.

The guy was anti-Thaksin & not all those that are against Thaksin are Democrats.

The police 'investigation' reeks of scapegoatism and the conflict of interest mentioned in the Op doesn't exactly help with their credibility. No matter what the victim was guilty of, he, like anyone, doesn't deserve execution.

[SOTIRIOS]

...let me see...get the victim to withdraw money...maybe coerce him...maybe on a business pretext...maybe forge his signature....or they were already signed..

...then murder him....and of course then say 'it was robbery'......

...typical Thai soap opera genius at work....

[Bagwan]

Kamronwit denied reports that police had already arrested Suthi-pong, saying he was probably still somewhere in Bangkok. He added that as Suthipong was a key suspect, there were fears that he could be silenced before being apprehended.

Funny thing to say? Silenced by who,? The 3 other suspects are in custody. How can the police chief say, 'he's probably still somewhere in Bangkok'? If the guy on the run is the murderer, I bet he has been silenced already.

Or in Cambodia

[Bagwan]

"I do not care about allegations that police are trying to wrap up the case quickly by making it a 'theft' case. Police are carrying out their duties to the best of their abilities,'' Kamronwit said.

To the best of their abilities .......

Highest bidder then.

I note that the Police PR man was on holiday. Why bother about the reputation of the RTP? We already know it is set in stone. The CIA made their judgement years ago.

[Bagwan]

chal1.jpgchal3.jpgchalerm0016.jpg

It wasn't us.................................Got nothing to do with me...........Don't know nuthin'

Well at least the third one is part credible

[EyesWideOpen]

Be interesting to see how this case unfolds.. I know if I was going to hire a hit man to kill someone, I would be sure to tell him to steal the wallet as well. Make it look like a simply robbery, case closed. On the other hand if the wallet was left on the body, then all kinds of questions are raised..

If he was killed over 5 million baht, that is a pretty silly amount of money. Did they he was a dollar billionaire ??

[Arkady]

Ai Phuet of strikes again.

Chalerm is on the case and hot on the trail of Ai Phuet - the mystery man who murdered the police sergeant Chalerm's son was accused murdering.

He has a score to settle there.

[Arkady]

Seriously though, this case has the look of the robbery of the permanent secretary for transport's house who turned out to have hidden some 2 billion baht under his bed (earned from moonlighting as an engineer according to him). Find some roughnecks and bait them with a significant sum of money to do what you what, and arrange for them to be caught immediately in the same way that drug smuggles inform on their couriers. Bingo. Someone you want out of the way is brutally murdered and some low lifes of no consequence are going to get banged up for life for murder and robbery without having a chance to spend even one satang of the loot.

Of course, it could just be a simple robbery and murder but....... These characters seem very unsophisticated and the abduction of Ekkayuth and forcing him to write checks and have them cashed, taking the hard drives out of his home security system etc, etc, seem smack more of the methodologies employed by police (e.g. the abduction and murder of the jeweller Santi's wife and son) and government escuadras de muerte in the South. The murder team has yet to come up with a consistent account of what they did and the police has messed up all the forensic evidence.

[Arkady]

Be interesting to see how this case unfolds.. I know if I was going to hire a hit man to kill someone, I would be sure to tell him to steal the wallet as well. Make it look like a simply robbery, case closed. On the other hand if the wallet was left on the body, then all kinds of questions are raised..

If he was killed over 5 million baht, that is a pretty silly amount of money. Did they he was a dollar billionaire ??

The 5 mil is a very large amount to the people involved. People have been murdered for 2 or 3 thousand. I don't know if he was a dollar billionaire or not but he was very wealthy. He made his seed capital through a pyramid fund that ripped off a lot of people in the early 80s and then fled to Germany and England to wait for the statute of limitations to expire on his fraud and theft charges. The Thai authorities were obviously bribed to neglect to request his extradition or cancel his Thai passport and started a very successful oriental food import and restaurant business in the UK, cashing in on the upsurge in popularity of Thai and Asia food, which he still owned at the time of his death.

Edited June 15, 2013 by Arkady