Police Now Reopen Mystery Death Case of Second Japanese Old Man

[Lite Beer]

Police Now Reopen Mystery Death Case of Second Japanese Old Man

The metropolitan police on Friday reconstruct possible fall to his death of a Japanese man at a four-story apartment room and commercial complex to compare with the autopsy report if he did fall by himself or anything else.

Although the incident happened over a decade but with the reconstruction, it could help to establish if the man Mr Kositoshi Tanaka died really from falling down the stairways after reportedly was drunk.

The reconstruction of all possibilities of the incident came after the victim’s daughter Ms Keiko Matta, met and requested the Samut Prakarn police to look into mystery behind her father’s death 11 years ago while he was living with Mrs Pornchanok Chaiyapa, now the suspected murderer of her Japanese husband Yoshinori Shimato, a 79-year-old Japanese language teacher.

Ms Matta became suspicious after hearing news of the gruesome murder of Shimato and one suspect is Mrs Pornchanok who she recognized was his father’s Thai wife.

She suspected her father might also be the victim of murder as Mrs Pornchanok reported her father was drunk and fell from the stairways of the apartment room.

She said earlier before his death, Mrs Pornchanok bought insurance policy for his father, and after his death was quick to claim the insurance money for herself.

Today, a team from the police forensics and detectives went to the apartment in Bang Plee district to reconstruct the fall of the Japanese man to his death.

It is at this residence where Mrs Pornchanok reported that her Japanese husband Tanaka had fallen to his death on a flight of stairs.

Police were attempting to reconstruct the crime and will be examining the forensic records of the autopsy that was carried out.

The team made an inspection of a four-storey commercial building located on the 18 km marker on Bangna-Trat Highway.

They were attempting to discover evidence to ascertain if the death was the result of an accident or whether there was foul-play involved.

From a reconstruction that was carried out, they discovered that Tanaka had walked out of his bedroom on the 3rd floor and had fallen to his death on the flight of stairs.

His body had landed on the 2nd story landing with his head bleeding out and positioned next to the metal railings. What they found suspicious however was the number of wide spread blood splattered on many of the steps on the staircase which might indicated that he had taken injuries before he had fallen.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Suwira Songmetta, the acting deputy police commissioner of the Royal Thai Police said, “We’re in the process of gathering all the necessary evidence such as determining exactly on which step on the staircase that an injury was sustained. We also have to ascertain the actual height that the victim’s body had fallen so that we can calculate the actual force of impact that was suffered. And finally, we have to see if the final resting place of the body tallies with all the facts.”

Keiko Matta, the daughter of the deceased Kasitoshi Tanaka, arrived at the Bang Plee police station to be further questioned by authorities on Friday.

She also submitted a petition asking the police to reopen her father’s death case.

In the statement, she said her father was a strict and careful man.

She said that he was a strong and active sportsman and enjoyed drinking but did not have a history of heart condition.

She said that her father owned a successful glass engraving business and was relatively wealthy but had fallen on hard times after marrying Mrs Pornchanok and moving in with her.

What has raised her suspicion was the fact that her father has purchased an insurance policy only two weeks before his death wherein his children would be the benefactors.

After his funeral however, Mrs Pornchanok had asked her to sign documents handing over the power of attorney solely to Pornchanok. Keiko stated that at the time she was too young to understand and had signed unknowingly.

“What I don’t understand is why my father, 2 weeks prior to his death, would tell us that he was purchasing an insurance policy. Furthermore, after his death why the funeral was so hurriedly organized and his body so quickly cremated,” she said.

The autopsy report on Mr Tanaka 11 year ago revealed that he had suffered 7 – 8 injuries on his head and torso. A large injury was sustained on his forehead where a large crack was evident on his skull. This shows that a large trauma was sustained by the head which Porchanok alleged he sustained when he fell.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/police-now-reopen-mystery-death-case-second-japanese-old-man/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-24

[mrtoad]

It doesn't take a genius to work out that this was murder, but good if The BIB are investigating it properly this time. Any death so soon after an insurance policy has been taken out should really set alarm bells ringing for any investigator of a competent manner.

The death penalty for these two people wouldn't be a bad thing, considering their confession.

[kurnell]

Perhaps they should reopen all the other cases of farangs 'falling' from balconies in Thailand. I suspect that the rate of murdered foreigners in Thailand would skyrocket.

[bkkgooner]

He "fell" down the stairs, jesus christ do these clowns ever actually investigate cases or do they just wait for the solution to fall in their laps like the second victim did?

[Tatsujin]

He "fell" down the stairs, jesus christ do these clowns ever actually investigate cases or do they just wait for the solution to fall in their laps like the second victim did?

Yes (badly) and yes (usually).

[chainarong]

How many mystery death cases are reopened in Thailand by the RTP each year, this is just another case in point where the RTP are so incompetent that they are laughable, no investigation appears to have been carried out, as they would have , (if investigated properly) , would have been advised by the insurance company of the insurance details, just the basic methods of investigation seem to be placed in the too hard basket, one wonders if it is laziness , could give a stiff fig or just plain dumb, either way the RTP is a hopeless case.

[daveAustin]

Let's hope they remove all monies from the witch's accounts before imprisoning and killing the pair.

[jaapfries]

"What they found suspicious however was the number of wide spread blood splattered on many of the steps on the staircase which might indicated that he had taken injuries before he had fallen."

. . . . and they simply "closed-the-file" ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Incredible ! ! ! ! !

[godden]

The MUPPETS come to mind

[kennw]

Follow the insurance money trail !

[bluegum]

It seems like the negligence and laziness of the police 10 yrs ago led to the recent death of Mr. Shimato. Will they accept responsibility? This should add weight to the calls for justice in other cases, including the Koh Tao murders.

[delgarcon]

Reminds me of the Goon show, "He's fallen in the water!"

[BangkokHank]

Perhaps they should reopen all the other cases of farangs 'falling' from balconies in Thailand. I suspect that the rate of murdered foreigners in Thailand would skyrocket.

I actually personally know of a case of a young American man (former neighbor) who was murdered in this way (being thrown off the balcony of his high-rise condo in Bangkok) by his new wife and her drug dealer/lover - for the insurance money. He met her while she was working in a bar - and fell blissfully in love with her. His mistake, aside from marrying a drug-using bar girl, was buying life insurance on himself and naming her the beneficiary. I guess being in love can make us do dangerous things.

Alas, these cases will never be re-opened, because it would be bad for Thailand's image and therefore tourism revenues.

[BangkokHank]

Let's hope they remove all monies from the witch's accounts before imprisoning and killing the pair.

You should have specified: ". . . remove the money from the witch's accounts and give it to the families of the victims". Otherwise the police might interpret your message as suggesting that THEY should keep the money.

[BangkokHank]

"What they found suspicious however was the number of wide spread blood splattered on many of the steps on the staircase which might indicated that he had taken injuries before he had fallen."

. . . . and they simply "closed-the-file" ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Incredible ! ! ! ! !

A bit of the insurance money in an envelope placed in the right hands goes a long way towards allaying any suspicions anyone may have had.

[Lite Beer]

Thai husband now confesses to killing Japanese businessman out of jealousy

BANGKOK: -- The taxi driver husband of the 79-year-old Japanese language teacher's Thai wife has now confessed to killing a Japanese businessman 11 years ago out of jealousy.

Confession by Mr Somchai Keawbangyang came after last night’s intense interrogation of the death case in 2003 when the Japanese businessman Kisitoshi Tanaka died falling from the third floor stairways of an apartment room in Bang Plee, Samut Prakarn where he rented and lived with Mrs Pornchanok Chaiyapa.

Somchai admitted to push him down from the stairways outside the victim’s third floor room.

He recalled that he had a drink before with the victim but left the room later.

However he returned again and called up Mr Tanaka to open the door. When Tanaka came out, he addaulted and pushed him down the stairways.

Tanaka fell on the stairways of the second floor unconsciously, he said adding that he pulled up his head and pressed his neck in between the stair grill and stepped on his head with his leg until he died.

He said he killed the Japanese businessman as he was jealous with him getting married to his wife.

Somchai affirmed that in this murder he did by himself with his former wife Pornchanok knowing nothing about it.

He also said this case had nothing to do with his money, but only jealousy.

Both Somchai and Mrs Pornchanok were escorted to reenact their crimes at the apartment and commercial building in Bang Plee this morning.

Samut Prakarn and forensic police on Friday reconstructed the falling from stairways to death by Mr Tanaka as earlier told by Mrs Pornchanok 11 years ago to the police at the four-storey apartment building.

In the reconstruction of the accidental fall, police found several suspicions which did not match the autopsy and forensic reports, and also circumstantial evidence.

Besides information revealed by Tanaka’s daughter Ms Keiko Matta also ascertained the police the possibility of another murder case rather than normal accident.

She said earlier before his death, Mrs Pornchanok bought insurance policy for his father, and after his death was quick to claim the insurance money for herself.

Royal Thai Police acting assistant commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Suwicha Songmetha said the police would seek court’s permission to further detain the couple on premeditated murder and would prosecute them in court within the next few weeks.

Both were escorted to the Criminal Court Saturday for permission of extended detention.

He said this case would be handled separately with the killing and mutilating of the body of Mr Shimato.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-husband-now-confesses-killing-japanese-businessman-jealousy/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-25

[thequietman]

Thai husband now confesses to killing Japanese businessman out of jealousy

BANGKOK: -- The taxi driver husband of the 79-year-old Japanese language teacher's Thai wife has now confessed to killing a Japanese businessman 11 years ago out of jealousy.

Confession by Mr Somchai Keawbangyang came after last night’s intense interrogation of the death case in 2003 when the Japanese businessman Kisitoshi Tanaka died falling from the third floor stairways of an apartment room in Bang Plee, Samut Prakarn where he rented and lived with Mrs Pornchanok Chaiyapa.

Somchai admitted to push him down from the stairways outside the victim’s third floor room.

He recalled that he had a drink before with the victim but left the room later.

However he returned again and called up Mr Tanaka to open the door. When Tanaka came out, he addaulted and pushed him down the stairways.

Tanaka fell on the stairways of the second floor unconsciously, he said adding that he pulled up his head and pressed his neck in between the stair grill and stepped on his head with his leg until he died.

He said he killed the Japanese businessman as he was jealous with him getting married to his wife.

Somchai affirmed that in this murder he did by himself with his former wife Pornchanok knowing nothing about it.

He also said this case had nothing to do with his money, but only jealousy.

Both Somchai and Mrs Pornchanok were escorted to reenact their crimes at the apartment and commercial building in Bang Plee this morning.

Samut Prakarn and forensic police on Friday reconstructed the falling from stairways to death by Mr Tanaka as earlier told by Mrs Pornchanok 11 years ago to the police at the four-storey apartment building.

In the reconstruction of the accidental fall, police found several suspicions which did not match the autopsy and forensic reports, and also circumstantial evidence.

Besides information revealed by Tanaka’s daughter Ms Keiko Matta also ascertained the police the possibility of another murder case rather than normal accident.

She said earlier before his death, Mrs Pornchanok bought insurance policy for his father, and after his death was quick to claim the insurance money for herself.

Royal Thai Police acting assistant commissioner Pol Lt-Gen Suwicha Songmetha said the police would seek court’s permission to further detain the couple on premeditated murder and would prosecute them in court within the next few weeks.

Both were escorted to the Criminal Court Saturday for permission of extended detention.

He said this case would be handled separately with the killing and mutilating of the body of Mr Shimato.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-husband-now-confesses-killing-japanese-businessman-jealousy/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-25

So, by the BIB not investigating the first incident properly and being the lazy basterds they are, the man and his wife were emboldened to do the same again in the second incident.

As with most problems in Thai society, be it social or otherwise, the Thai police farce are the main cause. If you know they are not going to be patrolling the roads, then you will drive like a dick.

If you know, they won't come looking for you if you are corrupt, then you will be corrupt.

If you know you can be a loan shark cause you have paid off the BIB, then you will be a loan shark.

If you know, if you get pissed and drive, that they are also in the bars, then you will drink and drive.

If you know that there will be no legal repercussions to illegal activity, then why the hell would you not do illegal things.

All of Thailand's issues (and I mean all) stem from the lack of law and order in this country. From top to bottom,if you know the cops won't do their job or that you can pay them off, then you will be a ad citizen.

Thailand's society is as it is due to the BIB's total inability to perform their duties.

Please see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Thailand

[lildragon]

Wow what a piece of work this couple is. The lady may of not got her hands 'dirty' in the physical killing of these two men but she deserves to rot in jail just as long as the killers for her cold and callous ways.

[ChrisY1]

If the daughter of Tanaka San had not come forward, yet another probable murder case would simply disappear from the records of the RTP.........they continue to illustrate their despicable traits!

Gradually, and hopefully, the international community will condem this "institution" of Thailand.

Edited October 25, 2014 by ChrisY1

[allan michaud]

It doesn't take a genius to work out that this was murder, but good if The BIB are investigating it properly this time. Any death so soon after an insurance policy has been taken out should really set alarm bells ringing for any investigator of a competent manner.

The death penalty for these two people wouldn't be a bad thing, considering their confession.

I am amazed at how intelligent and clear the police statement is on this. Why do they seemingly not go to such lengths in other investigations?

I think it has to be the death penalty because violence towards farangs seems to be rising and I feel certain quite a few of the huge number of balcony deaths here are not accidents either. Anything to put people off even considering doing this.

[BuddhistVirus]

Thai husband now confesses to killing Japanese businessman out of jealousy

Somchai admitted to push him down from the stairways outside the victim’s third floor room.

Tanaka fell on the stairways of the second floor unconsciously, he said adding that he pulled up his head and pressed his neck in between the stair grill and stepped on his head with his leg until he died.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thai-husband-now-confesses-killing-japanese-businessman-jealousy/

-- Thai PBS 2014-10-25

Wow, that is very 'graphic'...gave me goosebumps...

*shivers*

[bangrak]

What 'mystery death case'? The police closed the case as an 'accident' at the time! The only 'mystery' being whether they collected money to wrap it up asap like that...

[MobileContent]

Perhaps they should reopen all the other cases of farangs 'falling' from balconies in Thailand. I suspect that the rate of murdered foreigners in Thailand would skyrocket.

I think exactly the same Kurnell. If you look at the pattern we hear many similar cases but its either an accident or suicide.

For a yellow widow in Pattaya it would be easy to buy some pills for depression, etc and put it next to the dead body and for the BIB the case is always closed.

Edited October 25, 2014 by MobileContent

[MobileContent]

Both this cases is leaving a bad taste on Scotland Yard for their investigation in Koh Tao. The police is incompetent and they never follow the lead of a motive. We in the west always look for a motive and a life insurance that was left with the first Japanese that got killed is clearly a motive to further investigate.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I would imagine, these two will never face any death penalty from either of these two cases.

After all, apparently, the taxi driver/husband has now confessed to both murders, and the black widow has confessed to at least one of the two.

And as is well-established here, confessing earns you merit points in the court system and the meting out of sentences.

Who knows, they might even be ultimately pardoned/released some years down the road. It's certainly happened before in equally terrible crime cases.

[klauskunkel]

He said this case would be handled separately with the killing and mutilating of the body of Mr Shimato.

Oh goodie, does that mean we can look forward to another photo op with the murderers apologizing to the spirit of Mr. Shimato, complete with flowers and som tam? Or, after 11 years maybe not necessary anymore...

[kinmaew]

Thai husbands, they always seem to surface at some point.

[ggt]

Begs the question...that most of us suspect we know the answer...what about the scores of other so called suicides from foreigners supposedly jumping from hotels and condos...?

[jpduggan]

There mustn't have been any Burmese to pin it on???

[kurnell]

Perhaps they should reopen all the other cases of farangs 'falling' from balconies in Thailand. I suspect that the rate of murdered foreigners in Thailand would skyrocket.

I think exactly the same Kurnell. If you look at the pattern we hear many similar cases but its either an accident or suicide.

For a yellow widow in Pattaya it would be easy to buy some pills for depression, etc and put it next to the dead body and for the BIB the case is always closed.

If the truth about the numerous 'balcony jumpers' ever came out Thailand would be shamed internationally. That would dent tourism somewhat