‘Couple killer’ to face music this week

>> The alleged mastermind and one of two gunmen in the murder of a young couple at Buddha Mountain in Chon Buri late last month has been convicted of illegal entry into Cambodia and is likely to be brought back to Thailand to face charges on Tuesday, according to a police source.

Panya Yingdung, a Phuket club owner, was apprehended in Prey Veng province in Cambodia on Wednesday while he was believed to be heading to Vietnam.

The 39-year-old proprietor was said to be one of the two gunmen who fatally shot Anantachai Jaritram, 21, and his female friend Paweena Namuangrak, 20, in a parking lot on Khao Chee Chan, also known as the famous Buddha Mountain, in Sattahip district on July 29.

Mr Panya is also believed to have plotted the killings.

Police inspector-general Suchat Theerasawat visited Cambodia this week to seek its cooperation in bringing back Mr Panya.

The source who accompanied Pol Gen Suchat to Cambodia said the court there found Mr Panya guilty of illegal entry and the country’s security officers were in the process of considering his deportation.

As the immigration office in Cambodia is closed on weekends, Mr Panya is expected to enter the deportation process tomorrow evening and Thai officials are planning to escort him back the following morning, according to the source.

Meanwhile, Chon Buri police seized a car believed to have transported Mr Panya to a border area in Sa Kaeo where he crossed to Cambodia.

The car belongs to Phuthon Singdee, who was arrested in connection with the case earlier.

According to police, another suspect, Kowan Silpano, drove Mr Panya to a border checkpoint in Sa Kaeo at 9pm on July 29. As the checkpoint was already closed for the night, Mr Kowan contacted Mr Phuthon to help the businessman cross the border through a natural route instead.