Pair charged over death 11 years ago

[Lite Beer]

1ST JAPANESE HUSBAND DEATH
Pair charged over death 11 years ago
The Sunday Nation

BANGKOK: -- Accused woman's partner confesses to killing her first Japanese husband, whose death was declared an accident

Police yesterday charged a couple with murder in connection with the death 11 years ago of the woman's previous Japanese husband after her Thai partner confessed to having killed him for his business.

The death in October 2003 of Katsutoshi Tanaka was at that time declared an accident.

He was reported by his then-wife Phornchanok Chaiyapa to have died after falling from the stairs at his home.

Phornchanok and her Thai partner, Somchai Kaewbangyang, have been charged with premeditated murder and hiding a corpse in another case, involving the death of the woman's other Japanese husband Yoshinori Shimato.

Somchai had confessed to killing and dismembering Shimato, with Phornchanok's knowledge.

Police yesterday accompanied Somchai and Phornchanok, both 47 years old, to a shophouse in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district for re-enactment of the alleged crime that took place on October 3 in 2003.

'Suffocated man with foot'

Somchai confessed to police that he had pushed Tanaka down the house stairs and used his foot to suffocate him while the Japanese man was unconscious, according to police investigators at the re-enactment yesterday.

The man said that he was jealous of Tanaka, who was with Phornchanok at the time, and that he wanted to take over Tanaka's shop selling farming tools.

Phornchanok also reportedly had claimed Bt3 million in insurance money following Tanaka's death in 2003.

Police Lt-General Suwira Songmetta, an assistant national police chief, said yesterday that investigators were collecting evidence against Somchai and Phornchanok before filing the case with the Criminal Court.

"We have evidence to prove that Tanaka's case was not caused by a fall from the stairs and that the people involved had benefited from his death. We will seek court permission for the arrest of Somchai and Phornchanok for pre-meditated murder," Suwira said.

Somchai has confessed to killing Tanaka while Phornchanok, while not entirely denying her involvement, did not admit to committing the murder, according to the senior police officer.

Suwira said that police were collecting evidence before suggesting to public prosecutors to bring this murder case to court against the couple.

During yesterday's re-enactment of the crime, Phornchanok appeared to suffer from stress and fainted. Officials later helped her regain consciousness.

Somchai's younger brother Somsak Saelim, a witness in this murder case, told police that after Tanaka's death, Somchai and Phornchanok had told him that if he was asked by anyone about the cause of the Japanese man's death, he should tell them that Tanaka had died after falling from the stairs, according to a police source.

Meanwhile, the Criminal Court yesterday granted a police request for rejection of any bail for Somchai and Phornchanok during the police investigation.

Somchai was yesterday taken to Bangkok Special Prison for detention and Phornchanok was taken to Bang Khen Women's Prison.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Pair-charged-over-death-11-years-ago-30246259.html

-- The Nation 2014-10-26

[kurnell]

What a surprise. How many more 'accidental' deaths have there been over the years?

[clockman]

Now, how about finding Kirsty Jones killer? 14 Years. No closure for her family.

[JOC]

Now, how about finding Kirsty Jones killer? 14 Years. No closure for her family.

Not very relevant to the topic on hand??

[coma]

Now, how about finding Kirsty Jones killer? 14 Years. No closure for her family.

That case is now in the hands of British police.

[Commerce]

""We have evidence to prove that Tanaka's case was not caused by a fall from the stairs and that the people involved had benefited from his death."

Why didn't they have this evidence 11 years ago, and just suddenly found it after re-opening the case? Amazing BIB.

[crusader79]

Once you've killed once, I guess the second comes fairly easily.

[Elmer Gantry]

Now, how about finding Kirsty Jones killer? 14 Years. No closure for her family.

Not very relevant to the topic on hand??

Glad to see you are being consistent with your inane provocative posts,go to the top of the class.

[jollyhangmon]

>During yesterday's re-enactment of the crime, Phornchanok appeared to suffer from stress and fainted. Officials later helped her regain consciousness.<

... yeah? So why didn't someone use his foot on that perfect occasion than, would have saved time and precious breathing air & whatnot ...

[Lite Beer]

'Dark secret' of murder revealed

BANGKOK: The Thai partner of Pornchanok Chaiyapa, the chief suspect in the brutal murder of her elderly Japanese husband, says he is guilty of suffocating her previous Japanese husband in a case that cast a 'dark secret' over the family for 11 years.

Somchai Kaewbangyang, who has allegedly confessed to colluding with Ms Pornchanok, 47, in last month's murder of teacher Yoshinori Shimato, 79, admitted he killed the woman's previous Japanese partner, Kasitosi Tanaka in 2003.

Mr Somchai, who has two daughters with Ms Pornchanok, said he had successfully disguised Tanaka's death as an accident. The official cause of death is that he had suffered a heart attack after a fall.

The latest confession came just two days after one of Tanaka's daughters, Keiko Matta, 31, lodged a complaint with police seeking to reopen the investigation into her father's death. She never believed it was an accident as Ms Pornchanok and Mr Somchai had claimed.

Mr Somchai re-enacted the crime at a shophouse in Samut Prakan's Bang Phli district. He said he pushed Tanaka, 57, down a staircase and suffocated him.

Mr Somchai said before the murder, Ms Pornchanok phoned Tanaka to return to the shophouse where the Japanese man sold agricultural equipment. A party was under way at which two other men were present — Somsak Saelim, who is Mr Somchai's younger brother, and Wichai Saelim, his late father.

Mr Somchai said he did not show up at the party, but hid in a room on the third floor.

After the party, Ms Pornchanok went to her bedroom on the fourth floor with Tanaka while Mr Somsak and Wichai slept on the mezzanine floor.

Mr Somchai remained in hiding and waited for Tanaka to go to the toilet on the third floor. When he came downstairs, Mr Somchai said he hooked Tanaka's leg and pushed him down the staircase. He then smothered him by pressing one foot on the victim's neck after locking his head between two metal bars of the staircase for about 10-15 minutes.

Mr Somchai then alerted Ms Pornchanok and his brother and father about what he claimed was an accidental fall.

Ms Pornchanok, who was the first to arrive, reported to the police that there had been an accident, said Mr Somchai, who left the house before Ms Pornchanok alerted police. Mr Somchai said he acted out of jealousy. He also confessed he hoped to take over Tanaka's business after his death.

The brother, Mr Somsak, 32, who was also taken by police investigators to the re-enactment, said he told police Mr Somchai was not at the house that night and that Tanaka fell down on his own. He said he lied because Ms Pornchanok forced him to do so. Mr Somsak and his late father worked for Tanaka at the time.

After the party ended about 8pm, Mr Somsak said, he was asleep when his father woke him to go check on what he described as someone calling for help.

When he went upstairs he found Tanaka lying on the floor with Mr Somchai and Ms Pornchanok already there.

"Over the years I've been living unhappily with this dark secret of the Japanese man's death. I've tried to make merit at several temples just to make me feel better, but it didn't work at all," Mr Somsak said.

During the re-enactment, Ms Pornchanok collapsed. But a police source said she returned to normal after officers took her away in a van.

Pol Lt Gen Suwira Songmetta, the acting deputy national police chief, said yesterday (October 25) Mr Somchai's confession and Mr Somsak's account of the incident corresponded with the recorded autopsy results which said Tanaka died as a result of clogged blood vessels and bleeding in the heart and wounds caused by solid objects striking the head.

Police then sought arrest warrants for Mr Somchai and Ms Pornchanok and charged them with premeditated murder, he said.

Ms Keiko said she was glad to learn the details of her father's dubious death. She said she could not believe it was an accident, but was happy that it was now resolved. She thanked the police officers.

The latest confession comes after the couple's involvement in the case of Shimato, who had been missing since September 21. His dismembered body was found on Wednesday (October 22) stuffed into four sacks that were dumped in a canal in Samut Prakan.

Ms Pornchanok, who was formerly known as Pensri, has had at least two more Japanese partners, said a police source. One was identified only as Kamakari, said the source, adding that Ms Pornchanok's neighbour had obtained a letter written by him to Ms Pornchanok complaining about her going away with B3 million of his money. The neighbour received the letter for Ms Pornchanok because she was never at home.

The other Japanese partner was identified as businessman Noboru Ichizawa, who has filed embezzlement charges against Ms Pornchanok with the Thong Lor Police Station.

Police are working to establish connections between the crimes.

-- Phuket News 2014-10-26

[greenchair]

Now, how about finding Kirsty Jones killer? 14 Years. No closure for her family.

Not very relevant to the topic on hand??

Yes it is relevant . Same same but different.

[Nemesis7]

KARMA...will get you no matter what in some way or the other.

[greenchair]

If the first murder had been investigated even a little bit. The truth probably would have come out quite easily. Especially when the police knew there was 3 million insurance.

Another life 11 years later would have been saved.

That's why protecting kt is dangerous, as more people may die.

[seajae]

Now, how about finding Kirsty Jones killer? 14 Years. No closure for her family.

Not very relevant to the topic on hand??

then again when have you ever said anything relevant to any posts yourself

[chotthee]

11 years is too long.

Let by gone be by gone.

No point digging up the grave to upset the deceased.

[mdmayes]

Death to accused if found guilty.

[BuddhistVirus]

11 years is too long.

Let by gone be by gone.

No point digging up the grave to upset the deceased.

Not sure what you mean by that but here's a quote from news article (post#10)

The latest confession came just two days after one of Tanaka's daughters, Keiko Matta, 31, lodged a complaint with police seeking to reopen the investigation into her father's death. She never believed it was an accident as Ms Pornchanok and Mr Somchai had claimed.

[sawadeeken]

Now, how about finding Kirsty Jones killer? 14 Years. No closure for her family.

Not very relevant to the topic on hand??

I think it is right "ON" topic VERY relavent................... What is your problem?

Thai Police are being found more and more to 'WRITE THINGS OFF' rather than work hard to solve them...............

edit for mis-spelled word

Edited October 26, 2014 by sawadeeken

[cookee68]

""We have evidence to prove that Tanaka's case was not caused by a fall from the stairs and that the people involved had benefited from his death."

Why didn't they have this evidence 11 years ago, and just suddenly found it after re-opening the case? Amazing BIB.

Because it was easier not to have evidence on him all those years ago, otherwise the BIB would have to do real police work, and with out a back hand that is a bit beyond their means, and if you confess to a crime, then that is their evidence, along with the brother, kill the bastards, both of them, parasites

[cookee68]

11 years is too long.

Let by gone be by gone.

No point digging up the grave to upset the deceased.

Not sure what you mean by that but here's a quote from news article (post#10)

The latest confession came just two days after one of Tanaka's daughters, Keiko Matta, 31, lodged a complaint with police seeking to reopen the investigation into her father's death. She never believed it was an accident as Ms Pornchanok and Mr Somchai had claimed.

are you &lt;deleted&gt; serious, when you said let by gone be by gone, she killed her &lt;deleted&gt; husband, and because it was 11 years ago that makes it ok with you, what a &lt;deleted&gt; plumb you must be

[cookee68]

11 years is too long.

Let by gone be by gone.

No point digging up the grave to upset the deceased.

muppet

[Hatyaier]

I have to admit the Thai police are very, very good at getting people to confess to crimes, even when there is very little evidence.

Although in this case I think they have it right.

Edited October 26, 2014 by Hatyaier

[BestBitterPhuket]

At least they did a good job this time.

[englishoak]

11 years is too long.

Let by gone be by gone.

No point digging up the grave to upset the deceased.

Nice troll attempt

[Strangebrew]

And the hits keep on coming Shows just how good are Thai police really are Give them a few baht and they will say the moon is made of cheese.