Murder probe hits the wall
Mum takes action after investigation into her son’s grisly death stalls, writes Wassayos Ngamkham
Two years after the murder of her son, one sign of progress in the investigation which Latda Siworanan has seen is an arrest warrant for the suspected killer pinned on a wall of a police station in Nonthaburi.
Ananda, an 18-year-old engineering major, died just a few days before he reported to his faculty at King Mongkut’s University of Technology, North Bangkok campus.
Since his death in March, 2016, Ms Latda has become a regular visitor at Muang police station to ask for updates in the case, expecting to hear news of an arrest. Almost every time she gets the same reply, which shatters her hopes.
She was told by police “we’re working on it”, which makes her wonder just how much work the police have done.
It seems to her they have not carried out a serious hunt despite clues that the suspect might have fled to Ayutthaya, where his father lives.
Having no patience to wait for the next reply, the 48-year-old mother decided to take up the matter with the Crime Suppression Division, hoping CSD officers, with their areas of supervision nationwide, can make more progress.
She met Pol Col Arun Washirasisukanya, chief of the CSD’s subdivision 2, recently and told him about the last time she saw Ta, the nickname of her son.
She burst into tears when recalling his untimely death at a convenience store inside a petrol station in Nonthaburi’s Muang district.
Ta and his friends were looking for something to eat when a man darted toward Ta. Without saying a word, he stabbed Ta with a long knife three times. Ta collapsed and died in his own blood.
His friends froze when the man poked his knife at them, ordering them not to help.
“I saw all that in footage from a security camera two years ago,” Ms Latda told the Bangkok Post. “It was very cruel.”
She had to watch the video during the course of the investigation by Muang police.
Investigators later identified the killer as Natthaphon Santhasunai, 19, who was seen riding pillion on his friend’s motorcycle.
A search for Mr Natthaphon began after the Nonthaburi Provincial Court granted a warrant for his arrest. Police also obtained information the killer was probably hiding in Ayutthaya.
But they have never found him, Ms Latda said, adding she has learned little from investigators. “I want police to arrest the killer. I want to ask him myself why he killed my son,” Ms Latda said.
The reasons behind the attack remain mysterious. Ta was a decent , law-abiding lad, which adds to his mother’s frustration as to why his life would be taken.
“My son was a good student. He was never involved in brawls,” Ms Latda said.
His death not only dashed the family’s hope to see him as a breadwinner, but Ta’s own future came to an abrupt end.
The boy was devoted to study while at Yothinburana School. He later won a seat in the engineering department at King Mongkut’s University of Technology, North Bangkok campus, which is famous for sciences and engineering.
Ta was close to seeing himself in university uniform. Unfortunately he never had a chance to attend his first class.
Now, all his mother sees when she enters his room is emptiness. “I cannot bring him back, but I’ll seek justice for him,” Ms Latda insisted.
Ms Latda once asked the Nonthaburi police why police in Bangkok, who oversee up to 50 districts, appear to work faster. Some cases can be even wrapped up in a few days with suspects held behind bars. “They told me city police supervise areas thoroughly in square metres but Nonthaburi has different management,” she said.
Ms Latda did not understand what they said. She knows only that the outcome of this management has disappointed her.
She is hoping her complaint with the CSD makes more progress. Pol Col Arun said he would get staff on the job straight away. “It’s not difficult to track him down,” he said.
The officers now have both an arrest warrant and some clues. The young man’s mother is hoping for good news.
I want police to arrest the killer. I want to ask him myself why he killed my son. LATDA SIWORANAN MOTHER OF A VICTIM