Death Penalty Awarded For Australian's Murderers

[sriracha john]

astounding that we're back to this thread after 2 years...

Australian Michael Wansley

No one saw face of man who murdered auditor

Accused killer acquitted in Wansley case

The Criminal Court yesterday acquitted the accused gunman in the high-profile murder of Australian auditor Michael Wansley in Nakhon Sawan province nine years ago, after giving him the benefit of the doubt. On Aug 7, 2003, the Nakhon Sawan prosecution team and Adam Wansley, the dead man's son, accused Pichet Kaewsamduang, alias Sor Thaksin, of shooting dead Wansley, a 58-year-old auditor, on March 10, 1999. Wansley was also known as Michael Irwin and Irwin Wansley. The murder took place while Wansley, head auditor of South Sathon Planner Co, and his group were travelling in a van to Kaset Thai Sugar Co in Nakhon Sawan. He asked to meet the management of the debt-ridden sugar mill after he discovered alleged financial irregularities in the organisation. Somchai Jaihao, the motorcyclist who drove the gunman, and Chalong Pinphong, a staff member of the sugar mill, identified Pichet as the gunman. However, the court did not believe them as they were both accomplices. Somchai had been found guilty of playing a role in the murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, while Chalong gave evidence as a witness. Meanwhile, the plaintiffs could not produce a single eyewitness who actually saw the face of the gunman. Although their witnesses were in the same van when the murder took place, the witnesses saw only the gunman's back. Also, the plaintiffs' witnesses told the court that the murder occurred about noon, but Chalong told the court that Somchai had returned the getaway motorcycle to him about 10am. The conflicting accounts made the court doubt that Pichet was involved in the murder. Citing Article 227 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the court gave Pichet the benefit of the doubt and acquitted him of the murder charge and a weapons possession charge. However, the court detained him pending an appeal. About 20 of Pichet's relatives showed up at court yesterday. They were delighted with the verdict. Wansley's relatives were not present. In September 2006, the Criminal Court sentenced Kaset Thai Sugar executive Boonphan Sutheevirawan to life imprisonment, and sentenced to death Somchoke Sutheevirawan, Boonphan's younger brother, and Sompong Buasakul for premeditated murder in connection with Wansley's death. Another defendant Pradit Siriviriyakul, director of the sugar mill company, was acquitted. The banks that acted as creditors of Kaset Thai Sugar Co hired the Australian auditor to deal with the company's 16-billion-baht debt. He was one of

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/250708_News/25Jul2008_news16.php

[Tony Clifton]

I remember this case, was wondering recently what had become of it.

ANother fine presentation for the world to laugh at.

[TAWP]

On the upside, I do approve of:

"In September 2006, the Criminal Court sentenced Kaset Thai Sugar executive Boonphan Sutheevirawan to life imprisonment, and sentenced to death Somchoke Sutheevirawan, Boonphan's younger brother, and Sompong Buasakul for premeditated murder in connection with Wansley's death."

All to often the head honches get away, here it seems the gunman did but not the ones hiring him...at least that is good.

[LaoPo]

On the upside, I do approve of:

"In September 2006, the Criminal Court sentenced Kaset Thai Sugar executive Boonphan Sutheevirawan to life imprisonment, and sentenced to death Somchoke Sutheevirawan, Boonphan's younger brother, and Sompong Buasakul for premeditated murder in connection with Wansley's death."

All to often the head honches get away, here it seems the gunman did but not the ones hiring him...at least that is good.

Agree, but not a single word about the sugar mill owner himself, Mr. Pradit Siriviriyakul who owed US $ 450 Million in debts to Thai Banks.....

"Sugar mill owner, Pradit Siriviriyakul, had been charged with hiring the gunman to murder Mr Wansley, but was acquitted for lack of evidence."

from:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/Death-Penalt...884#entry885884

LaoPo

[wintermute]

One reason why western auditors are used is because a lot of the debt is actually financed in "proxy" by Thai banks through various instruments owned by western or foreign financial institutions. I don't know if this was the case for the bank involved in this deal but it does make some sense. I'm not blaming the victim for anything but I wonder how this Aussie conducted himself on this auditing trip. You have to be extremely discrete when auditing a corrupt company in a country like Thailand.

Edited July 27, 2008 by wintermute

[cloudhopper]

You have to be extremely discrete when auditing a corrupt company in a country like Thailand.

Apparently.

[HYENA]

I don't see why they don't beat them at their own game- hire hit men to kill the killers if that's how they want to play it.

[miruph]

Right thought HYENA.

Edited July 27, 2008 by miruph