Police rule out claim ‘influential woman’ involved in Krabi massacre

By Suriya Patathayo, Somchai Samart 
The Nation

 

 

Police have dismissed a theory that an unnamed influential woman was involved in the massacre of a village head and his family in Krabi province, after a former policeman reportedly failed to substantiate his previous accusation.
 

Deputy National Police Commissioner Pol General Suthep Dejraksa said yesterday that Pol Lt Colonel Santhana Prayoonrat, a former deputy superintendent attached to the Special Branch Police Division, had not provided the full name of the woman or new information to investigators.

 

“He says if she is identified by name, witnesses may not have the courage to speak to police,” Suthep said. “We have no need to invite Santhana to provide information again, unless he really has new information.” 

 

Santhana was yesterday invited to explain his claim that an unidentified woman referred to as the “big sister of Chumporn” was involved in the shocking murders. 

 

However, Suthep said Santhana did not provide any new information for the investigation into the killing of village head Worayuth Sunlung and seven members of his family in Krabi’s Ao Luk district. 

 

To date, the investigation is more than 80 per cent complete, police have said, with evidence reportedly suggesting that Surifath Bannoppawongsakul, or “Bang Fath”, was behind the crime over a land dispute he had with Worayuth. 

 

Eight suspects including Surifath are now in detention.

 

“Information given by Santhana cannot be proven based on forensic-science principles. We cannot use it in the investigation report,” Suthep said. 

 

In a related development, Ao Luk district chief Chaiyawuth Bua-thong said an election would be held in Moo 1, Ban Khao Ngarm, Tambon Ban Klang, in his district to select the new village head to fill the post left vacant by Worayuth’s murder. 

 

“The election will take place on August 8,” he said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30321750

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-7-25

Maybe they should look into the theory at least a little bit before totally dismissing it. I thought that was what police were supposed to do. You know, check out everything, so you have the full picture, rather than just nail the easy suspects. Maybe if this country actually had police who knew more about their job then collecting brown envelopes and planting drugs on people, they would know that already.

28 minutes ago, MarkusAUST said:

Maybe they should look into the theory at least a little bit before totally dismissing it. I thought that was what police were supposed to do. You know, check out everything, so you have the full picture, rather than just nail the easy suspects. Maybe if this country actually had police who knew more about their job then collecting brown envelopes and planting drugs on people, they would know that already.

The influential woman first named obviously has connections higher up than the officer that accused her of involvement. 

11 minutes ago, docshock13 said:

The influential woman first named obviously has connections higher up than the officer that accused her of involvement. 

It has been known to happen before. Koh Tao infamous murder investigation for example.