Murder of Akeyuth: Lawyer and family demand further investigation

[webfact]

DEATH OF AKEYUTH
Lawyer and family demand further investigation
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The lawyer representing Akeyuth Anchanbutr called on the police yesterday to clarify several points about the businessman's murder.

In a letter to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Pol Lt-General Khamronwit Thoopkrajang, Suwat Apaipak questioned the theft motive that the police have settled for.

To date, Akeyuth's chauffeur Santiparb Pengduang and three alleged accomplices have confessed to robbing and killing the businessman. They claim there were no other masterminds.

But in a letter to Khamronwit, Suwat questioned the suspects' motive, saying that if they really wanted to rob Akeyuth, why did they choose to drop his valuables into a river? He also asked the police to find these valuables in order to shed light on the case.

Among other things, Suwat said Akeyuth's relatives wanted the police to retrieve his titanium eyeglasses, a gold necklace worth Bt200,000 and a Buddha amulet worth Bt20 million.

Suwat also called on the police to retrieve the handcuffs that were allegedly used to restrain Akeyuth and missing shirt buttons, saying these clues might help make the motive clearer.

Police yesterday led volunteers to comb the area where Akeyuth was said to have briefly escaped from the van before being recaptured by the suspects.

The lawyer also wants police to check the phone records of Santiparb and the other suspects both before and after the killing to find out who they had been in touch with.

In the letter, Suwat also called on the police to find the hard disk for the security camera allegedly stolen from the victim's home. Plus, relatives want Akeyuth's clothes to be retrieved, in the hope they may shed some light on the mystery surrounding his death.

Suwat said Akeyuth's family was willing to postpone cremation of the body if another autopsy was needed.

Khamronwit responded to the letter by saying that police would take about a week to find answers to the lawyer's questions. He said Suwat would be immediately told if they found anything new.

Investigators were open to suggestions from the lawyer and Akeyuth's relatives, he said, as the police also doubted the suspects' claim but they had to wait for forensic results first.

Meanwhile, Pol Lt-Colonel Santhana Prayoonrat, a former Special Branch officer, told investigators yesterday Akeyuth had told him in person on April 25 that some people wanted him dead. Santhana said Akeyuth had spoken of this on a flight out of the country, adding that he was certain the businessman had been assassinated at someone's order.

Separately, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said he had instructed the Crime Suppression Division to conduct another investigation and compare its results with the probe conducted by the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

Deputy metropolitan police chief, Pol Maj-General Parinya Chansuriya, said Santiparb's girlfriend would be summoned for questioning soon. The chauffeur has claimed he planned the attack to avenge her being sacked by Akeyuth.

Suwat submitted the letter after the victim's family collectively decided to continue fighting for further investigation. Initially, Akeyuth's wife and sisters wanted to comply with the police force's conclusion because they were worried about their safety. However, his brother and son insisted they continue fighting because they did not believe that theft and anger over the sacking of the driver's girlfriend were the true motives.

Suwat said the family would cooperate with the investigation and if necessary would defer the cremation, scheduled for June 29.


-- The Nation 2013-06-19

[ianf]

Who dunnit? Motives? Fairly obvious to any amateur sleuth. Say no more.

[rkidlad]

"But in a letter to Khamronwit, Suwat questioned the suspects' motive, saying that if they really wanted to rob Akeyuth, why did they choose to drop his valuables into a river? He also asked the police to find these valuables in order to shed light on the case"

"Details, details, don't bother me with the details......" Chalerm Yubamrung, sorry - Winston Churchill

[NongKhaiKid]

This case was " solved " with indecent haste and now the police are saying they will have answers to the family's lawyers questions in a week, there's even to be a second investigation as ordered by Chalerm who of course was spouting off as soon as the deceased was reported missing.

The question is " will anything new emerge " ? From Chalerm on down through the system this was clear cut from the start and nothing else was worthy of consideration so given the official personalities involved and their attitude it's almost inconceivable that they will change their view..

If there's been a cover up as many suspect stage 2 will be a cover up of the cover up and the original findings will be supported.

Can anyone imagine Chalerm admitting he was wrong ?

[Bellweather]

In a week, a month, forever the family and public will be told the motive was robbery and all implicated have been arrested nothing else remains - that the official line and they're sticking to it.

[A Member]

So the girlfriend is to be summoned for questioning " soon ", this is a murder mystery indeed but no urgency to get on with interviewing potential witnesses.

The National Police Chief has said they are open to suggestions as to motive etc. but a bit late when it's all been nicely tidied up and had Chalerm's seal of approval before the victim was even known to be dead.

I can't make up my mind as to what the BIB are worst at, Criminal investigation or PR, not much between them really.

[Padova44]

Yes, let us have a police investigation. First, of how this major Yellow Shirt contributor made his money tho' the record on that is far from blank, and second, who on earth did he distribute that fortune to every month in cash?

[jaidam]

Yes, let us have a police investigation. First, of how this major Yellow Shirt contributor made his money tho' the record on that is far from blank, and second, who on earth did he distribute that fortune to every month in cash?

You are referring to Ekayuth's ponzi scheme which wrapped up 30 years ago and is way outside the statue of limitations time-wise? IMO there are more recent, more relevant, and certainly more severe crimes(such as his murder) that warrant a police investigation.

I believe after fleeing to the UK Ekayuth founded a chain of asian grocery stores and made a second fortune from that. Nothing illegal in that, and entirely up to him who he distributed his money to.

[Globeman]

This case was " solved " with indecent haste and now the police are saying they will have answers to the family's lawyers questions in a week, there's even to be a second investigation as ordered by Chalerm who of course was spouting off as soon as the deceased was reported missing.

The question is " will anything new emerge " ? From Chalerm on down through the system this was clear cut from the start and nothing else was worthy of consideration so given the official personalities involved and their attitude it's almost inconceivable that they will change their view..

If there's been a cover up as many suspect stage 2 will be a cover up of the cover up and the original findings will be supported.

Can anyone imagine Chalerm admitting he was wrong ?

Or admitting that in this case he was Thaksin's servant?

[Padova44]

Jaiddam replied to my earlier posting as follows;

"You are referring to Ekayuth's ponzi scheme which wrapped up 30 years ago and is way outside the statue of limitations time-wise? IMO there are more recent, more relevant, and certainly more severe crimes(such as his murder) that warrant a police investigation.

I believe after fleeing to the UK Ekayuth founded a chain of asian grocery stores and made a second fortune from that. Nothing illegal in that, and entirely up to him who he distributed his money to."

The first paragraph attempts to state that the expiration of the statute of limitations makes a criminal action less criminal. It does not.

The second paragraph shows even less of a legal education. If how this crook distributed his money was "entirely up to him", that is true only if he put himself outside of all civil society, a law unto himself. It decidedly was not "entirely up to him" if criminality was involved. I don't have the facts on where all that cash went, wish I did. He's just another dead gangster.