DSI seeks DNA samples of over 100 police officers
Pichet Netbutr,
Chularat Saengpassa
The Nation
SUKHOTHAI

Investigators to screen out possibilities in the murder of Japanese woman in 2007

BANGKOK: -- THE team investigating the murder of a Japanese tourist at Sukhothai Historic Park eight years ago will collect DNA samples and fingerprints of more than 100 border patrol police officers who underwent training at a camp near the crime scene at the time of the murder.

The border police officers have since been transferred to other provinces, including Chiang Mai, Nan, Phetchabun and Trat, while some have retired or passed away.

However, Pol General Jaramporn Suramanee, special cases adviser at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), instructed the team to collect samples from all the officers.

They will also collect samples from the relatives of the deceased border police officers, according to Somneuk Terdkawinkul, a DSI senior investigator and secretary of the probe team.

The DSI officials and forensic experts yesterday visited Sukhothai province to collect DNA samples and fingerprints from 34 border patrol police officers, Somneuk said. The team also collected fingerprints from 30 other border patrol police officers (whose DNA samples had been collected before) as they volunteered to undergo further examination to express their sincerity and innocence.

He said the team had already collected DNA samples and fingerprints from 49 border patrol police officers in Phitsanulok province. Somneuk said the DNA samples would be submitted to the Central Institute of Forensic Science while the fingerprints would be submitted to the Police Forensic Centre if they matched those found on details collected from the victim's body.

Jaramporn said investigators were looking into who might have been in the area at the time of the murder, which occurred during the Loy Krathong Festival. He said none of the people who submitted DNA samples and fingerprint collection were suspects in the case and that the idea was to rule them out as possible suspects.

On November 25, 2007, Tomoko Kawashita, 27, was found stabbed to death near Wat Saphan Hin in the park. Local police investigated and collected DNA samples before passing the case to the public prosecutor in line with legal procedure, Jaramporn said. The police suspended interrogations but still continued the probe, he said.

Two years ago, the victim's family called for a speedy investigation into the murder, which prompted the DSI to treat it as a special case. Investigators have collected samples from 200 people, none of whom match the evidence collected from the scene and victim.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/DSI-seeks-DNA-samples-of-over-100-police-officers-30271880.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-30

Are they taking the pi......

Results should be in by lunchtime. Some forum members will be in for a surprise to see the honest police force suspected of involvement in yet another tourist killing. Its as if LDP, KJ, VA, AL, HW and DM were never killed by authority figures at all judging by some naive replies recently.

"Two years ago, the victim's family called for a speedy investigation into the murder, which prompted the DSI to treat it as a special case."

This may sound cynical, but I wonder how much reward money was offered by the victim's family? Seems a bit strange the RTP would sit on their hands for 6 years and then suddenly take a renewed interest in the case based only on the pleas of a bereaved family (when no such special consideration as a "special case" was given in other cases with equally devastated families).

the number of tourists who get murdered in this country is simply astounding.

I really would like to know how many tourists got murdered in country like Spain or USA, and i would guess its very low!

thailand is certainly the most dangerous tourists destination

"They will also collect samples from the relatives of the deceased border police officers, according to Somneuk Terdkawinkul, a DSI senior investigator and secretary of the probe team."

Ah, I see where this is going...

"They will also collect samples from the relatives of the deceased border police officers, according to Somneuk Terdkawinkul, a DSI senior investigator and secretary of the probe team."

Ah, I see where this is going...

Since there were no Burmese workers living nearby, the main suspect is dead already.

"They will also collect samples from the relatives of the deceased border police officers, according to Somneuk Terdkawinkul, a DSI senior investigator and secretary of the probe team."

Ah, I see where this is going...

Dead men don't tell tales, can't deny involvement in anything or implicate others, luckily !

Edited October 30, 201510 yr by NongKhaiKid

looking in the right place, methinks.

"Two years ago, the victim's family called for a speedy investigation into the murder, which prompted the DSI to treat it as a special case."

This may sound cynical, but I wonder how much reward money was offered by the victim's family? Seems a bit strange the RTP would sit on their hands for 6 years and then suddenly take a renewed interest in the case based only on the pleas of a bereaved family (when no such special consideration as a "special case" was given in other cases with equally devastated families).

I would suspect the Japanese PM is pushing for this to be resolved before investments etc are continued with as it wasn't that long ago that "dear leader" got summoned to go meet with him to put him in his place a bit.

I'm sure they could solve a few crimes if they DNA tested all of the RTP and all higher government officials.

"They will also collect samples from the relatives of the deceased border police officers, according to Somneuk Terdkawinkul, a DSI senior investigator and secretary of the probe team."

Ah, I see where this is going...

Since there were no Burmese workers living nearby, the main suspect is dead already.

Case solved, dead man did it.

Errr....Since they can get DNA results so swiftly, shouldn't every RTP 'Officer' already have a sample on file?

DNA technology only came out 25 years ago or so, but that seems to be the pace in Thailand... 25 - 30 years behind.

I think this will be another blunder they didn't get anywhere the first time around what makes them think they will do better the second time around anything can happen in 8 years I think this will be another flop.

"Local police investigated and collected DNA samples" November 2007

Now DSI will collect DNA samples and fingerprints of more than 100 border patrol police officers who underwent training at a camp near the crime scene at the time of the murder.

It seems that in 2007 none of the border patrol police would have had their DNA and fingerprints collected. Otherwise it would be redundant to collect their DNA and fingerprints again.

Just not the samples from the right police eh?

Let's see if this actually goes and solves the case.

I wouldn't hold your breath though!

At least they're doing something about it. By testing DNA of the deceased and the living they will, hopefully, find the killer which will mean some closure for the poor family.

Collecting finger prints from police, law enforcement, military personnel and anyone else that wants a job to carry a gun for the government, should be the first step in the application process for such a job. In many Western countries this is common practice and necessary. After all, you don't want someone wanted for a crime becoming law enforcement or military personnel ! Amazing Thailand!

Edited October 30, 201510 yr by cigar7

Collecting finger prints from police, law enforcement, military personnel and anyone else that wants a job to carry a gun for the government, should be the first step in the application process for such a job. In many Western countries this is common practice and necessary. After all, you don't want someone wanted for a crime becoming law enforcement or military personnel ! Amazing Thailand!

Yes, and any job in which you are dealing with "vulnerable sectors" of the public. I.e. children, elderly, disabled etc.

Whom are they fooling?

"Two years ago, the victim's family called for a speedy investigation into the murder, which prompted the DSI to treat it as a special case."

This may sound cynical, but I wonder how much reward money was offered by the victim's family? Seems a bit strange the RTP would sit on their hands for 6 years and then suddenly take a renewed interest in the case based only on the pleas of a bereaved family (when no such special consideration as a "special case" was given in other cases with equally devastated families).

I would suspect the Japanese PM is pushing for this to be resolved before investments etc are continued with as it wasn't that long ago that "dear leader" got summoned to go meet with him to put him in his place a bit.

It could also be payment for letting that gun toting Thai policeman off so lightly on his recent trip to Japan. There would be a delay in announcing it so that no clear connection can be made between the two events. Maybe, just a thought.

Are they taking the pi......

seems that way. or they are plain stupid