Night-entertainment tycoon Somyot 'killed for failing to quash a drug lawsuit'

[webfact]

Somyot 'killed for failing to quash a drug lawsuit'
PENSRI KADEN,
NOPPADOL SRITHAWEEKARD,
ANGSUMA SRIDOKKHAM
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- NIGHT-ENTERTAINMENT tycoon and lawyer Somyot Suthangkool was murdered on June 29 on the orders of a drug suspect after failing to quash a drug lawsuit for which he had been paid millions of baht, police said yesterday.

Panupong Rassana, the gun-for-hire who confessed to murdering Somyot, had implicated former prison guard Chom Chainarong as an accomplice. Chom was arrested in Phetchaburi province.

Chom confessed to allegedly receiving Bt1 million from the hirer, keeping Bt100,000 for himself and passing Bt300,000 on to Panupong. He didn't say where the rest of the money went.

A source said police have already issued warrants for the arrest of the getaway motorcycle driver, identified only as "Noo", and the man who arranged for the gunman, identified as Krissada "Nok" Jai-aim. The identity of the hirer remains unknown.

National police chief General Somyot Poompanmuang told a press conference that Panupong, 32, would be charged with committing premeditated murder, being in possession of a gun and ammunition in public without a permit and carrying a gun in public without a good reason.

Before the shooting, Panupong was taken to reconnoitre the restaurant once and given the gun.

To re-enact the crime, police have taken Panupong to four locations: the restaurant parking lot in Suan Luang district where he allegedly shot Somyot; Somdet Phra Pinklao Bridge where he threw the gun into the river two days after the shooting; the Ramkhamhaeng Soi 24 area where he and the motorbike driver ditched the getaway motorcycle and caught a taxi; and the toilet at the Hua Mark Stadium compound where he collected the money and the .38-calibre pistol.

The last re-enactment was performed with Chom.

Pol Maj-General Sombat Milintajinda, commander of Metropolitan Police's Investigation Division, said Panupong confessed that Chom had paid him a down payment of Bt30,000 and a further Bt270,000 after the shooting.

Panupong claimed he didn't know Somyot, but he accepted the job as it was requested by a person for whom he felt deep gratitude.

Pol Maj-General Akaradech Pimonsri, commander of Crime Suppression Police, said the motive was Somyot's reported bungling of a drug lawsuit after he was paid millions of baht to have it quashed but "it didn't fall through due to alleged betrayal".

Police suspect the involvement of another person who might be close to Somyot, a source said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Somyot-killed-for-failing-to-quash-a-drug-lawsuit-30268091.html


-- The Nation 2015-09-04

[jaywalker]

Where would the world be without re-enactments of crime?

[NongKhaiKid]

Carrying a gun in public without a good reason ?

TIT, isn't face a good reason ? Na na na na my one's bigger than yours !

[Charlie Croker]

A night entertainment tycoon is a pimp with bars right?

The rest of the unaccounted for money is where, that's a very conveniently forgotten factor?

Who gave him the gun?

Plus we find out there is actually a law where a person can be considered legally carrying a gun in public, because they have a good reason.

[chainarong]

This is the silent penalty , you can either wake up dead or just , disappeared , that is if you get to close , lawlessness and disorder lie just below the surface in the Land of smiles ,you decide which smile.

[Broken Record]

Plus we find out there is actually a law where a person can be considered legally carrying a gun in public, because they have a good reason.

Huh, you mean YOU have only just realized a person can legally carry a gun ?

Just what's needed, another ThaiVisa criminal investigator who knows nothing.

[kiwikeith]

Did they do a real re-enactment and shoot the guy lying on the ground!

[madmitch]

"The identity of the hirer remains unknown".

Unknown or known but with high connections? I think that's about the same in Thailand. As usual the big fish will probably come out of this unscathed.

[spidermike007]

This is the silent penalty , you can either wake up dead or just , disappeared , that is if you get to close , lawlessness and disorder lie just below the surface in the Land of smiles ,you decide which smile.

I think it is safe to say, that in a land where the police accept a large reward, for solving a crime, there is a complete lack of law and order. 99% of the population here knows they are a revenue collection agency. Few take them seriously, when it comes to law enforcement, the ability to solve crimes, and traffic safety enforcement.

That the police would even be allowed to accept that reward, says more about this government, than one cares to ponder.

[SOTIRIOS]

...the identity of the hirer remains unknown.....

[user82374298374]

What is a 'drug lawsuit', in this context?

Is this a mis-translation of 'drug case', as in a criminal case?

Edited September 4, 2015 by disambiguated

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

yet another case of the low level people getting named and the person of influence not being named.

They know the names of the low level (poor) people involved, they know the crime that was meant to be quashed so they must know who was also being charged for that crime?? So how can they not know the who the hirer was?

[Ulic]

There is a lesson in all this. If you take the bribe, you had better deliver on your commitment.

[deckape]

"The identity of the hirer remains unknown".

Unknown or known but with high connections? I think that's about the same in Thailand. As usual the big fish will probably come out of this unscathed.

Nope, the big fish took the hit this time.

[mikemac]

Did they do a real re-enactment and shoot the guy lying on the ground!

You beat me to it ! The day will come when some bright-spark says "Hey, these re-enactments are not realistic enough. How about we put one live round in the gun and get the shooter to actually put one in him...................Anyone want to volunteer for the next murder re-enactment" ? ....................(bang-crash-scream-out my way !....sound of furniture being knocked over and cops jumping out of windows)

Edited September 4, 2015 by mikemac

[off road pat]

carrying a gun in public without a good reason.??? how about intend to shoot somebody ??? is that not a good reason ????

[off road pat]

yet another case of the low level people getting named and the person of influence not being named.

They know the names of the low level (poor) people involved, they know the crime that was meant to be quashed so they must know who was also being charged for that crime?? So how can they not know the who the hirer was?

Don't underestimate the Police,...they know the name of the person who ordered the Killing.

From these 2 possibility's ? witch one do you like ?

1 - they are building a case against him ?

2 - They are blackmailing him for a lot of money ?

In both cases, it doesn't stop there.......

[Prbkk]

Oddly this report doesn't mention the fact that Chom is the killer convicted in the murder of the jeweller and his family in the Saudi blue diamond case. At some point quite 'connected', although that didn't stop him serving 19 years.

Edited September 4, 2015 by Prbkk

[Bluespunk]

"Panupong, 32, would be charged with committing premeditated murder, being in possession of a gun and ammunition in public without a permit and carrying a gun in public without a good reason."

Yeah fair enough, putting down a man who allegedly used influence and money to subvert the law is still not really a good reason to carry a gun in public.

Lets face it, if it was there would be bodies all over the place.

Edited September 4, 2015 by Bluespunk

[Bluespunk]

Where would the world be without re-enactments of crime?

In a much saner place?

[mikemac]

............................."and carrying a gun in public without a good reason.".................................

What "good reason" do you need to carry a gun in public ? When you are hit-man ? Going to carry out a contract ? Or when you just feel the need to be packin' heat ?

[Bluespunk]

............................."and carrying a gun in public without a good reason.".................................

What "good reason" do you need to carry a gun in public ? When you are hit-man ? Going to carry out a contract ? Or when you just feel the need to be packin' heat ?

Or you're a BIB not happy with your superiors evaluation of your work performance.

[Maggusoil]

There is a lot of disatisfaction with lawyers. This is one way of dealing with it.

[ableguy]

This is the silent penalty , you can either wake up dead or just , disappeared , that is if you get to close , lawlessness and disorder lie just below the surface in the Land of smiles ,you decide which smile.

I think it is safe to say, that in a land where the police accept a large reward, for solving a crime, there is a complete lack of law and order. 99% of the population here knows they are a revenue collection agency. Few take them seriously, when it comes to law enforcement, the ability to solve crimes, and traffic safety enforcement.

That the police would even be allowed to accept that reward, says more about this government, than one cares to ponder.

Did you ever consider this may have been a play act by the Thai police ?? They got all the info from the first guy arrested and used the reward scam so the rest of the gang thought they were still safe, do you not think it odd that they have arrested so many people or got warrants so quickly after this guys arrest ?.

I can assure you I am not a conspiracy theorist just useing commen sense.

Fact is the truth will never come out , so all this is irrelevant, however food for thought.

[cookee68]

Where would the world be without re-enactments of crime?

But didn't the 2 Burmese boys do the same in Khor Tao and that turned out to be bullshit, but i do agree it is funny to seem the re-enact the crime