Krabi massacre suspects ‘to be arraigned soon’

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Krabi massacre suspects ‘to be arraigned soon’

By Sittichai Sikhawat 
The Nation

 

File photo: Bang Fath

 

Attorney-General spokesman Lt Somnuek Siangkong believes suspects in the massacre of a Krabi village head and his family will be arraigned in court before the end of next month.

 

“Public prosecutors have been working with police in this high-profile case for some time already,” he said on Wednesday. 

 

Somnuek spoke after police submitted an investigation report on the shocking crime to public prosecutors. 

 

The 2,382-page report includes results of forensic, DNA and other laboratory tests that suggest the eight suspects colluded in a plot to kill village head Worayuth Sunglung and his family. 

 

On July 10, Worayuth was killed inside his home alongside seven family members. Three relatives survived with injuries. Only his infant son was not harmed. 

 

The shocking crime made headlines across the country, prompting a quick police investigation. Within days, a loan shark by the name of Surifath Bannopwongsakul, or Bang Fath, was arrested in connection with the massacre. Seven alleged accomplices were also identified. 

 

Surifath is known to have had a serious conflict with Worayuth over land plots that he refused to return to the village head.

 

It is believed that Worayuth submitted the land plots as collateral to obtain loans from Surifath. But even after the debts were fully repaid, Surifath did not return ownership of the plots. 

 

Police have charged eight suspects in the case with 10 charges, including the serious councts of colluding to kill others, attempting to kill others and theft. If found guilty of these crimes in court, the suspects could face the death penalty. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30324729

 

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