An official version that is just too hard to believe: Thai editorial

[webfact]

EDITORIAL
An official version that is just too hard to believe
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Most people are convinced the police and govt are lying about the killing of Akeyuth Anchanbutr; there is no choice now but to ensure that justice is done and seen to be done

Robbery is so common in Thailand that it's widely accepted it can occur anywhere and anytime. Yet it was almost immediately discarded as a possible motive in the murder of Akeyuth Anchanbutr. The businessman and government critic's conflicts with both the police and the ruling party left many observers suspicious of a darker cause. That the police investigation has progressed rapidly - a rarity in such a high-profile case - only adds to the doubt.

Who killed Akeyuth and why? These questions undoubtedly require thorough investigation. The least familiarity with the law should prevent anyone from jumping the gun and voicing assumptions. Yet the same day Akeyuth's death was confirmed, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung declared it the result of a robbery, telling reporters that the man's chauffeur, Santiparb Pengduang, had murdered his boss for his money. Chalerm's outrageously premature judgement raised suspicion further. How was he in possession of such "facts" so soon? Akeyuth's lawyer, Suwat Apipak, responded firmly that the killer's motivation was not theft.

No one expects quick answers in a murder investigation like this, but the police have made extraordinary progress in a short time. The discovery of the body, the interrogation of the suspect and the re-enactment of the crime proceeded at such a rapid pace that they served in turn to make the case seem more mysterious. The more the police attempt to demonstrate that the businessman was murdered for his money, the more doubters appeared on newspaper opinion pages and in online forums.

Loopholes in the investigation seemed to loom large. Sceptics on Facebook share the dubious points that must be challenged. Why did the alleged murderer go home to see his parents immediately afterward? How did the van in which Akeyuth was supposedly killed pass so many police checkpoints between his home, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Pattalung, where his body was ultimately found? Why have the police failed to recover Akeyuth's missing valuables, including Rolex watches? And why was it so much easier to determine the murderer in this case than it is to track down the owners of the luxury cars that caught fire while being shipped through Isaan?

The clear indication in all this questioning is that a large segment of the public mistrusts the police and government's handling of the case. Thailand's failure to adopt international standards of justice might be misguiding us to yet another case of injustice. In more developed countries, if a murder case involves politics, investigators who are independent of the local police take charge. Akeyuth's murder is in this category. He was well known as a critic of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra and it was he who sparked a furore over Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra meeting a businessman at a Bangkok hotel. Akeyuth had also filed a libel suit against Bangkok Police Chief Kamronwit Thoopkrachang - a Thaksin devotee - over a police raid on a karaoke bar. Kamronwit is, of course, now chief investigator in the murder of a man who sued him.

Meanwhile missing lawyer Somchai Neelaphaijit's widow Angkana has claimed that some of the police officers who captured the suspects in Akeyuth's case were also implicated in the unsolved disappearance of her husband in 2004. Whether true or not, the accusations further darken the clouds over the current investigation.

This sordid investigation has rubbed salt into the wound of public mistrust for authority. It is a matter of urgency for the police and government to regain credibility. They must ensure that the justice system works without compromise. The murder of Akeyuth has become a critical matter. The police and government have no choice but to prove to the public that they can be just as well as trustworthy, whether or not the victim is their friend or foe.


-- The Nation 2013-06-19

[bigbamboo]

Most people were convinced about the Somchai case too but the mastermind was never caught.

[gemini81]

Chalerm knows who and how; he always does. They're his cronies. Protect them like your sons, Chalerm!

[NongKhaiKid]

Are we on the eve of a first for Thailand which would see the real motive made public, ALL those involved arrested and dealt with and Chalerm admitting he was wrong from the start, providing he's not involved somehow that is ?.

As John Lennon sang " you may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one " but I am more definite, I'm not a dreamer more like deranged if i believe this might happen.

[CelticBhoy]

Jackanory comes to Thailand.

[benalibina]

Its a funny country.

[rametindallas]

It looks like the PTP is capable of using the 'Dark Hand', also. That 'Dark Hand' sure gets around.

[Tatsujin]

Are we on the eve of a first for Thailand which would see the real motive made public, ALL those involved arrested and dealt with and Chalerm admitting he was wrong from the start, providing he's not involved somehow that is ?.

No. Business as usual here, nothing will come of it except some lowly lackey paid to take the fall and the blame.

Edited June 19, 2013 by metisdead
30) Do not modify someone else's post in your quoted reply, either with font or color changes, added emoticons, or altered wording.

[cup-O-coffee]

The least familiarity with the law should prevent anyone from jumping the gun and voicing assumptions.

What does being familiar with the law have to do with anything in this cracker barrel of a country, you morons; and why should it prevent anyone from jumping the gun, when most gun jumpers and even the children and soi dogs know the truth of the former?

Don't piss down people's backs and tell them it's raining,

[Somrak]

Chalerm knows who and how; he always does. They're his cronies. Protect them like your sons, Chalerm!

...and everybody who is angry about protests, as happend in Chiang Mai, have the right to the same actions the PT thinks are OK for red terrorists!?.

What the families of the murdert in 2001/2 should do! What .....

NOTHING TiT

Edited June 19, 2013 by Somrak

[SOTIRIOS]

...correction....it was stated before any news report........or any body was found....

[Emdog]

Like Deep Throat in "All the President's Men" said "Follow the money trail" and I don't mean from whatever may have been stolen from the deceased.

[waza]

It is suspicious.

[GooEng]

"Most people are convinced the police and govt are lying about the killing of Akeyuth Anchanbutr"

Given the circumstances this seems very reasonable assumption to make and assuming its correct, how on earth can it be ensured that "justice is done and seen to be done" if the very bodies responsible for justice (cops & govt) are lying?

Thailand, hub of the sinister ironic paradox.

[Donnie Brasco]

All "official versions" or official explanations are pieced out for mass consumption, are they not ?

This applies to any explanation issuing from a group as small as a husband and wife discussing her discovery of a condom in the family car to post-catastrophic rigamoroles pumped out by global agenda outfits like NATO or the IMF.

It should come as no great surprise, then, that accounts of the murder of some Thai bagman would be released piecemeal and subsequently analyzed amidst a flurry of conflicting detail and absence of detail.

Some detail (and this goes to the inevitably massive bodies of evidence that accumulate after murders like this on up to massive deep political crime) never surfaces. Investigative threads are smothered with skillful obfuscation.

"The power" deems what version of the story will be allowed to emerge.

That story will be what emerges.

Any conflicting information is "handled".

Burning questions are diffused into a million smatterings of unfocused hearsay and conjecture.

The remaining tenacious investigators will be ridiculed; their alternate theories left twisting in the doldrums of ignorance.

And of course, diversions, celebrity gossip, important entertainments and spectacles, scandal, finance "issues" will soon smother most remaining embers.

We are urged to "move on" . . . . . . Ooosh, ooosh, ooosh, hi-yaaah.

Most move on, do they not?

Like the man said: "(We) can't HANDLE the truth! "

So we are rarely permitted to look for it.

Why should this play out any differently in Thailand regarding the all-too-quickly announced disappearance and all too pat motives and accounts of Ekayuth, the Thai bagman ?

Edited June 19, 2013 by Donnie Brasco

[EyesWideOpen]

In a country with actual freedom of the press, an investigative newspaper would be all over this case. However in Thailand, with their wacky defamation laws, that will never happen, and certainly the truth will never be found out.

Hmmmmm I wonder why these laws are in place..... :-)

[Donnie Brasco]

In a country with actual freedom of the press, an investigative newspaper would be all over this case. However in Thailand, with their wacky defamation laws, that will never happen, and certainly the truth will never be found out.Hmmmmm I wonder why these laws are in place..... :-)

And just *****which country's***** newspapers are we supposed to believe would be fostering and nurturing the embers of investigative enquiry until the fires of TRUTH had purged resident evil from the land ;-?

[cup-O-coffee]

All "official versions" or official explanations are pieced out for mass consumption, are they not ?

This applies to any explanation issuing from a group as small as a husband and wife discussing her discovery of a condom in the family car to post-catastrophic rigamoroles pumped out by global agenda outfits like NATO or the IMF.

It should come as no great surprise, then, that accounts of the murder of some Thai bagman would be released piecemeal and subsequently analyzed amidst a flurry of conflicting detail and absence of detail.

Some detail (and this goes to the inevitably massive bodies of evidence that accumulate after murders like this on up to massive deep political crime) never surfaces. Investigative threads are smothered with skillful obfuscation.

"The power" deems what version of the story will be allowed to emerge.

That story will be what emerges.

Any conflicting information is "handled".

Burning questions are diffused into a million smatterings of unfocused hearsay and conjecture.

The remaining tenacious investigators will be ridiculed; their alternate theories left twisting in the doldrums of ignorance.

And of course, diversions, celebrity gossip, important entertainments and spectacles, scandal, finance "issues" will soon smother most remaining embers.

We are urged to "move on" . . . . . . Ooosh, ooosh, ooosh, hi-yaaah.

Most move on, do they not?

Like the man said: "(We) can't HANDLE the truth! "

So we are rarely permitted to look for it.

Why should this play out any differently in Thailand regarding the all-too-quickly announced disappearance and all too pat motives and accounts of Ekayuth, the Thai bagman ?

Thank you. A well crafted post.

[virtualtraveller]

There is, of course, a very easy means of demonstrating the police's double standards. Arrange for the 'robbery murder' of some businessman allied to Govt who has enemies among the opposition. See if the police treat it as a open-shut robbery case. See how quickly Chalerm dismisses it.

[JetsetBkk]

There is, of course, a very easy means of demonstrating the police's double standards. Arrange for the 'robbery murder' of some businessman allied to Govt who has enemies among the opposition. See if the police treat it as a open-shut robbery case. See how quickly Chalerm dismisses it.

Go on then.

[OzMick]

There is, of course, a very easy means of demonstrating the police's double standards. Arrange for the 'robbery murder' of some businessman allied to Govt who has enemies among the opposition. See if the police treat it as a open-shut robbery case. See how quickly Chalerm dismisses it.

I vote for Thaksin.

[chainarong]

Its a funny country.

Unfortunatley a dangerous one , that not too many tourists know about, is the DARK HUB

[MrSlatersParrot]

Quote:

An official version that is just too hard to believe
The Nation

"BANGKOK: -- Most people are convinced the police and govt are lying about the killing of Akeyuth Anchanbutr; there is no choice now but to ensure that justice is done and seen to be done"

justice seen to be done. That would be a first.

Conspiracy theorists abound.

Wasn't 5000000 baht taken out of Akeyuth's account by his driver using a cheque? £100,000 a lot of money to someone on maybe 300 baht per day.

Sure Akeyuth may have had many enemies. He embezzled a lot of money and fled to the UK where he reinvested those funds apparently and made himself rich.

Maybe it's just a simple brutal crime. Maybe there's more to it possibly more about the girl to come out.

Like the poor guy from liverpool who fell from the balcony (popular way to go in Thailand, always happening) the truth may just be quite simple.

If important people wanted him dead it wouldn't involve money, not 5 million baht and if it was about money and he was very rich it would be about a lot more money.

Money that a simple driver wouldn't have a clue as to how to get hold of, .

It is curious why the bank gave out the money but I believe Akeyuth contacted them personally.

Any checking ought to include checks on his finances at the time and anything unusual.

[waza]

Quote:

An official version that is just too hard to believe

The Nation

"BANGKOK: -- Most people are convinced the police and govt are lying about the killing of Akeyuth Anchanbutr; there is no choice now but to ensure that justice is done and seen to be done"

justice seen to be done. That would be a first.

Conspiracy theorists abound.

Wasn't 5000000 baht taken out of Akeyuth's account by his driver using a cheque? £100,000 a lot of money to someone on maybe 300 baht per day.

Sure Akeyuth may have had many enemies. He embezzled a lot of money and fled to the UK where he reinvested those funds apparently and made himself rich.

Maybe it's just a simple brutal crime. Maybe there's more to it possibly more about the girl to come out.

Like the poor guy from liverpool who fell from the balcony (popular way to go in Thailand, always happening) the truth may just be quite simple.

If important people wanted him dead it wouldn't involve money, not 5 million baht and if it was about money and he was very rich it would be about a lot more money.

Money that a simple driver wouldn't have a clue as to how to get hold of, .

It is curious why the bank gave out the money but I believe Akeyuth contacted them personally.

Any checking ought to include checks on his finances at the time and anything unusual.

My guess is it will be the driver will be found guilty and this will become another case for the conspiracy theorists. Along with the blue diamond ect ect

Having said that its interesting to note that a great deal of the public indicate that they are suspicious of this government and feel it cant be trusted.

Edited June 19, 2013 by waza

[thhMan]

Thailand is retards...

Fingers crossed the next generation is not so retarded

[Baerboxer]

Quote:

An official version that is just too hard to believe

The Nation

"BANGKOK: -- Most people are convinced the police and govt are lying about the killing of Akeyuth Anchanbutr; there is no choice now but to ensure that justice is done and seen to be done"

justice seen to be done. That would be a first.

Conspiracy theorists abound.

Wasn't 5000000 baht taken out of Akeyuth's account by his driver using a cheque? £100,000 a lot of money to someone on maybe 300 baht per day.

Sure Akeyuth may have had many enemies. He embezzled a lot of money and fled to the UK where he reinvested those funds apparently and made himself rich.

Maybe it's just a simple brutal crime. Maybe there's more to it possibly more about the girl to come out.

Like the poor guy from liverpool who fell from the balcony (popular way to go in Thailand, always happening) the truth may just be quite simple.

If important people wanted him dead it wouldn't involve money, not 5 million baht and if it was about money and he was very rich it would be about a lot more money.

Money that a simple driver wouldn't have a clue as to how to get hold of, .

It is curious why the bank gave out the money but I believe Akeyuth contacted them personally.

Any checking ought to include checks on his finances at the time and anything unusual.

Of course you may be right. Simple robbery by an upset employee may be the reason. The fact that the victim was the only witness for the defendants in the PM's FourSeason's defamation case; and that the defendant had recently claimed he had damning information on the government he was about to reveal on social media; and that he had discussed his safety concerns with a high ranking former special branch officer prior to his murder, may all be totally unconnected.

I guess we will never know.