Alleged killers of Japanese man: Plea to probe death of ex-husband

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ALLEGED KILLERS OF JAPANESE MAN
Plea to probe death of ex-husband
THE NATION



Daughter of woman's first Japanese husband suspects her role in 2003 death; charges pressed over murder of second partner

BANGKOK: -- THE DAUGHTER of a Thai woman's first Japanese husband urged police yesterday to reopen the case of her father's death, after 11 years.

Katsutoshi Tanaka - the father of Keiko Matta, 31 - was married to Phornchanok Chaiyapa, who reportedly claimed Bt3 million from his life insurance after he died in 2003 from falling down the stairs.

Phornchanok is now a suspect in the murder of Yoshinori Shimato, 79, her second Japanese husband.

Matta said she had suspicions about her father's death.

"But [at that time] I didn't know what to do because I didn't know where she was. Now, I came here to see her face," Matta said at the Metropolitan Police Bureau where police held a press conference in relation to the death of Phornchanok's second husband.

Police yesterday charged Phornchanok and her taxi-driver boyfriend Somchai Kaewbangyang with premeditated murder, unlawful detention and concealing the victim's body.

In response to the complaint from Matta, acting deputy police chief Pol Lt-General Ruangsak Jarit-ek said police would have to first wrap up the Shimato case before they look for more information to see if the Tanaka case should be reopened.

Matta was born to Tanaka's second wife, and Phornchanok was his third wife. Matta said that though she was very young at the time, she wondered why Phornchanok had rushed to take her father's body out of the Forensic Medicine Institute for cremation.

"My father had no illnesses and he was very healthy and strong," she added.

Police slapped the charges on Phornchanok and Somchai after officers from the Second Cavalry Division handed them over to the Metropolitan Police Bureau at 10.30am yesterday. Police then had the two undergo physical check-ups to prove that they had not been tortured into confessing.

However, up until press time yesterday, the suspects were still insisting that they had not killed Shimato, just hacked his body and hidden the body parts after he died from natural causes.

Shimato's body parts were retrieved from the Nang Tim Canal near Assumption University on Bang Na-Trat highway.

Ruangsak said yesterday that DNA tests confirmed the body parts found in the canal were those of Shimato, adding that police were still awaiting DNA test results from the bloodstains found in the second-floor bathroom in Phornchanok's house.

Ruangsak said a joint committee, comprising officers from the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Provincial Police Bureau 1, would be set up to wrap up the investigation and ensure justice for all sides.

He added that Phornchanok would be closely watched to prevent her from trying to harm herself.

Phornchanok and Somchai were present at the press conference at the Metropolitan Police Bureau before they were handed over to Bang Sao Thong Police Station in Samut Prakan for detention pending further investigation.

Somchai told the press that he had been driving his taxi when Phornchanok called him to say she was not well and wanted his help at her home at the Orchid Villa housing estate.

He said upon entering the house, he found Phornchanok sitting at the dining table crying, and she later said a Japanese man had died on the second floor.

He said he went upstairs and checked Shimato's pulse and found that he was not breathing.

"I asked her what should be done. She said she didn't know so I asked her to wait downstairs and that I would handle it," Somchai said.

"I only thought about making the body smaller. So I dragged it to the bathroom and used a knife and hammer to dismember it. I did not think anything other than just wishing it could be done fast. I started at 7pm and finished it by midnight. Then I took the parts in my taxi to find a location to hide them.

"I cut the body alone, but when I took the parts to hide them, my girlfriend was with me. She said nothing, just kept crying."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Plea-to-probe-death-of-ex-husband-30246159.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-24

[Lex Talionis]

Pol Lt-General Ruangsak Jarit-ek said police would have to first wrap up the Shimato case before they look for more information to see if the Tanaka case should be reopened.

Why is that I wonder? Understaffed?

[hansgruber]

How dumb do they think the Police are?

If he died of natural causes then it would have been a bigger financial windfall as the insurance would trump the ATM withdrawals.

Why not just call the ambulance and wait to collect?

Sent from my LG-D858

[Bluespunk]

"I only thought about making the body smaller."

Because that would be the best way to cover up the method used to kill him, he silently thought to himself.

[NongKhaiKid]

Did the BIB do a re-construction of dismembering the body ?

We know what sticklers they are for complete accuracy during their investigations.

[BSJ]

Can we safely assume these murdering thugs will be in jail for the rest of their lives once they have their day in court? Or get a lethal injection and save the country some money?

[hansgruber]

Can we safely assume these murdering thugs will be in jail for the rest of their lives once they have their day in court? Or get a lethal injection and save the country some money?

No. Tum boon and yearly royal sentence reductions will see they are out in 5 years. Edited October 23, 2014 by hansgruber

[JeremyBowskill]

I doubt 5 years but suspect it could possibly be under 10.

[otherstuff1957]

Given the way that the BIB are going after this case I would suspect that the suspects have no influential connections or much cash on hand. I think that they will be put away for quite some time.

[richusa]

Thai Females = take money = smile = lie = smile = lose mobile phone = lie = smile = buffalo died = cry = lie = smile.......it will neve end here........it will get worse.

[rkidlad]

I've noticed on a thai dating website many girls are wary of scammers. Many profiles say 'no scammers!'

What I don't understand is why some girls are so scared. It's a very easy concept to avoid being scammed. If someone online asks you for money, you just say 'NO'.

i can't help but feel some of these girls believe there are some genuine men on there who will send you iPhones and gold etc for a small release fee. At the end of the day, it's all about 'GREED'. The scammers are bad sure, but many of the people who get scammed are stupid and more importantly 'greedy'.

Many people nowadays (anywhere in the world) think it's their god given right to just have money.

[Confuscious]

Pol Lt-General Ruangsak Jarit-ek said police would have to first wrap up the Shimato case before they look for more information to see if the Tanaka case should be reopened.

Why is that I wonder? Understaffed?

The way the Thai Police handle such cases is that the suspects will be given a reasonable time to buy (bribe) their way out of this mess.

If they have money enough to pay the BIB enough, the case will be closed.

If not the case will go to the courts and the "free" price will go up.

Of course, they are free to flee to a neighbouring country in the transit time.

[wabothai]

Too many eyes on the police. This time they will follow the law iso ......

[ScotBkk]

If one really looks deeply into this case and especially if the BIB dare pussyfoot around - can you imagine the Japanese repercussions and what the onslaught would be like in light of the Koh Tao murders ?

I plainly suggest - all is above board for the first time in Thai history .. lets see the outcome .......

[Lupatria]

Too many eyes on the police. This time they will follow the law iso ......

You mean there were no eyes on the police when Mr. Redferraribull gave wings to the cop on his motorbike?

[Wat dee]

Thai Females = take money = smile = lie = smile = lose mobile phone = lie = smile = buffalo died = cry = lie = smile.......it will neve end here........it will get worse.

Only the ones who don't love you.

[allan michaud]

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I've noticed on a thai dating website many girls are wary of scammers. Many profiles say 'no scammers!'

What I don't understand is why some girls are so scared. It's a very easy concept to avoid being scammed. If someone online asks you for money, you just say 'NO'.

i can't help but feel some of these girls believe there are some genuine men on there who will send you iPhones and gold etc for a small release fee. At the end of the day, it's all about 'GREED'. The scammers are bad sure, but many of the people who get scammed are stupid and more importantly 'greedy'.

Many people nowadays (anywhere in the world) think it's their god given right to just have money.

The last sentence should have continued "... without having to work."

I remember my father saying to stories like this. "A fool and his money are soon parted"