Spanish murder suspect has fled Thailand, girlfriend claims

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Spanish murder suspect has fled Thailand, girlfriend claims

Staff Writer

Image: Daily News

BANGKOK:-- The main suspect wanted over the gruesome murder of a Spanish businessman in Bangkok has already fled Thailand, according to a Thai woman who was with him on Friday.

On Saturday, Pritsana Saen-ubon contacted police after she saw a photo of suspect Artur Segarra on a national news bulletin.

Pritsana, 22, told police she was in Surin with Artur Segarra on Friday afternoon and last saw him at around 6pm.

She said she had known Segarra for approximately 6 months and had lived with him Bangkok but had no idea he was wanted murder until she saw his photo on TV whilst they were together in a karaoke bar. It was then that Segarra started acting suspiciously before quickly leaving the bar.

Earlier today (Saturday) police found a Honda PCX motorcycle close to the Cambodian border which may have been used by Segarra.

Police have now sent the most recent images of Segarra taken by Pritsana on Friday to immigration officials, police and transport operators throughout the country in the hope that the suspect is still in Thailand.

On Friday police said that Segarra had transferred and started to withdraw almost 37 million Baht from the Singaporean bank account belonging to the victim, David Bernat.

The withdrawals took place from various ATMs in Bangkok and Ayutthaya.

David Bernat, 40, was last seen leaving Nantiruj Tower apartment on Sukhumvit Soi 8 on January 20th.

Last weekend, body parts were found washed on the banks of the Chao Phraya river in Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani. On Thursday, police confirmed the body parts belong to telecoms consultant Bernat.

On Saturday, Thai PBS reported that police were holding a meeting before deciding whether to issue an arrest warrant for Segarra, who has now overstayed his visa having previously travelled in and out of the country on 30 previous occasions.

Source: Daily News

-- 2016-02-06

[NeverSure]

Why do the Thai police have to rat out an informant - especially one who has no knowledge of any crime? Why do they even have to say what she told them or that she gave them pictures of him? Why do they have to show a picture of her in the news?

All they needed was the info she gave them because it has no further use to the system. Now she could be a target of him or cronies for what purpose?

[chrisinth]

I really do like to give the RTP the shadow of the doubt in cases such as this; they are not easy to solve in any country. People should not believe all they see in the various CSI series & movies that do the rounds; reality is a lot more different.

However, when i read statements like the ones issued in the OP, my support wavers.

"On Friday police said that Segarra had withdrawn almost 37 million Baht from the Singaporean bank account belonging to the victim, David Bernat.

The withdrawals took place from various ATMs in Bangkok and Ayutthaya".

How is this possible, to withdraw 37 million baht from ATMs over such a short period? Even if it was possible, surely the bank would flag these transactions?

"On Saturday, Thai PBS reported that police were holding a meeting before deciding whether to issue an arrest warrant for Segarra, who has now overstayed his visa having previously travelled in and out of the country on 30 previous occasions".

I know the guy Segarra is only a suspect, but clearly he is a very important suspect. What is the reason for the meeting and what has his visa history got to do with it? Surely they can issue an arrest warrant just on the overstay issue (due to his person of interest status) and at least get him into detention?

Don't know, I would like to be wrong with the above issues........................

[samsensam]

On Friday police said that Segarra had withdrawn almost 37 million Baht from the Singaporean bank account belonging to the victim, David Bernat.

The withdrawals took place from various ATMs in Bangkok and Ayutthaya.

37 million baht from various ATMs?! do ATMs have that much cash in them? isnt there a daily withdrawl limit on accounts to prevent such things happening?

[taony]

Why do the Thai police have to rat out an informant - especially one who has no knowledge of any crime? Why do they even have to say what she told them or that she gave them pictures of him? Why do they have to show a picture of her in the news?

All they needed was the info she gave them because it has no further use to the system. Now she could be a target of him or cronies for what purpose?

No brains!!!

[Wilsonandson]

The butcher of Bangkok roams the Thai, Cambodian border. Lock your doors people, it's going to be a long night.

[Wilsonandson]

Here's the motorbike.

[Tatsujin]

37 million baht withdrawn from atm's at 20k a time and nothing got red flagged at any point?

Come on BiB, you can bullshit better than that.

[kartman]

Here's the motorbike.

He's under the seat but we don't have the key.

[poohy]

37 million even at 50 k a withdrawal is 740 visits to hole in wall.... seems strange it wasn't flagged up

And with that sort of money , if it is him you can bet your life hes over the border by now

[OMGImInPattaya]

I suspect the 37M is incorrect...it would take many months to withdrawn that much money with the standard daily ATM withdrawal limits on most accounts. It took me almost a month to drawdown 1M baht from an account once. Whatever the amount, I'm sure the BIB's main interest in this case is to track down where/who's got that stash, whatever the amount is, now so they can do a "short count" when it's found.

[nev]

He will be found dead, any falang carrying obscene amounts of cash with Thai's knowing will not live long.

[stickylies]

37.000.000THB in cash isn't the jackpot any longer in SE-asia. 20 years ago it could buy you a fake identity and keeping u out of trouble but those days are long gone.

to be arrested soon if not found dead before

[TheLobster]

Seems like a lot of money has gone somewhere and the best they can do is ATM cash withdrawals

[Wilsonandson]

Say this guy has the 37 million baht in a back pack. If each 1000 baht note weighs aprox 1 gram this would come to about 40 kilograms of weight. With jungle terrain to cross over to Cambodia of about 5 miles -10 miles of treking would take about slow walking pace, 4-8 hours. Now he was last seen on Friday night, so treking in the dark through jungle is difficult. So say he waited until first light, he would be in Cambodia around 12 noon, thirsty and his clothes dirty. With all his money in Thai baht he would need to barter for taxi rides or food, etc in this currency. Cambodian authorities should be able to track him down.

[Basil B]

Bangkok - Surin via Ayutthaya and hundreds of ATM withdrawals all in one day... some going.

Edited February 6, 2016 by Basil B

[cyberfarang]

Why do the Thai police have to rat out an informant - especially one who has no knowledge of any crime? Why do they even have to say what she told them or that she gave them pictures of him? Why do they have to show a picture of her in the news?

All they needed was the info she gave them because it has no further use to the system. Now she could be a target of him or cronies for what purpose?

Good point.

Seems in Thailand they don`t believe in witness anonymity therefore putting their lives at risk. As it seems there is a lot of money involved between these thugs and are big time gangsters, getting on the wrong side of them could prove fatal as has happened to one man all ready. Exposing witnesses like that is unprofessional and if it were me I would not be too keen to come forward.

[berybert]

Wasn't the reason he is a suspect because the money was transferred into his account ?

That is the only reason he is even a suspect. So whats the truth ? transferred money or took it out of the hole in the wall (which wouldn't be possible)

[leeneeds]

like a rabbit in the head lights, his free days are numbered,

[HooHaa]

Why do the Thai police have to rat out an informant - especially one who has no knowledge of any crime? Why do they even have to say what she told them or that she gave them pictures of him? Why do they have to show a picture of her in the news?

All they needed was the info she gave them because it has no further use to the system. Now she could be a target of him or cronies for what purpose?

I think their reasoning is pretty obvious.

It shows they are making progress in identifying and tracking the suspect.

It also makes the TV elite scramble about for new ways to complain about how poorly they do their jobs.

[PaullyW]

All the comments show just how easily even we educated people are led by reports from the BIB organisation we KNOW is completely corrupt and dishonest.

We have run with this story from the BIB, asking few skeptical questions and taking their side against a man we know NOTHING about.

If this is how us old timers here get on, how easy do you think people who don't live in Thailand are fooled? Remember that next time a westerner is slaughtered (like at Kao Tao) and you don't understand why it's so easy to get away with murdering foreigners here.

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

37 million baht withdrawn from atm's at 20k a time and nothing got red flagged at any point?

Come on BiB, you can bullshit better than that.

Thais withdrawal millions through the casinos in Poipet everyday. Just use their atmosphere card to transfer 30 million to the casino's Thai account. So why would it be suspicious? Thais transfer from account to account has no limit.

[NongKhaiKid]

Probably the BIB were happy to hear the suspect has fled the country as they're not noted for aggressive pursuit of suspects who have gone overseas.

Now they can just say all the right things without bothering to follow them through.

[ChrisY1]

This whole case reeks of lies and fiction......IMO, the cops are after something far bigger than a body chopper on the run....the money seems the goal!

[cgphuket]

37.000.000THB in cash isn't the jackpot any longer in SE-asia. 20 years ago it could buy you a fake identity and keeping u out of trouble but those days are long gone.

to be arrested soon if not found dead before

lol, its still the ifetime earnings of about 6 people on Thai wages. If its not much, send that amount to me to prove your point.

[surfinglife]

A criminal's girlfriend...her mum and the whole village must be proud of her

[dake333]

Could it possibly be he started to withdraw some of the money in which the account that holds 37 million. Maybe he only got a small amounts out over various transactions.

[dake333]

(On Friday police said that Segarra had transferred and started to withdraw almost 37 million Baht from the Singaporean bank account belonging to the victim, David Bernat.) Yes, read properly gentlemen. He did not withdraw 37 million.

Edited February 7, 2016 by dake333

[cyberfarang]

Probably the BIB were happy to hear the suspect has fled the country as they're not noted for aggressive pursuit of suspects who have gone overseas.

Now they can just say all the right things without bothering to follow them through.

Put it this way, a foreigner has been murdered by other foreigners and only because this happened on Thai soil has it become the involvement of the Thai police. Once a foreign perpetrator has left the country it then becomes someone else`s problem. In fact I don`t lie blame on the Thai police if they decide not to put a lot of resources into finding the murderers abroad.

[eggers]

Thai police arrest an aged group playing social game of cards ......And meanwhile a murder suspect gets away!!

Makes Perfect sense???