‘Billy’ murder charges may be dropped

The widow of rights activist Porlajee “Billy” Rakchongcharoen may have to pursue murder charges herself against the four suspects accused of the crime if the DSI opts only to prosecute them for lesser offences.

“If the murder charges are dropped, Billy’s wife still has the option of suing the suspects on criminal charges,” Surapong Kongchanthuk, a lawyer representing Billy’s wife, Pinnapa Prueksapan, told media yesterday after prosecutors forwarded a recommendation to downgrade the charges to the Department of Special Investigation.

According to sources, prosecutors led by Chawarat Wongthanasomboon notified the DSI director-general Pol Col Paisit Wongmuang in a letter this week of their recommendation that the state drop the murder charges against Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, the former chief of Kaeng Krachan National Park, Boontaen Bussarakham, Thanaseth Chaemthes and Krissanapong Jitthes.

The revised charges involve their failure to hand over the Karen activist to police after he was arrested in April 2014 for collecting wild honey in the park, in Kaeng Krachan district of Phetchaburi.

Mr Surapong said the quest to have the case heard in the criminal court would continue.

“We remain hopeful that the DSI will officially argue against the decision and demand prosecutors arraign them for murder.”

The lawyer said yesterday he was confident prosecutors would reconsider their decision if the DSI argued the point and reminded them again that the case has received global media attention.

Voranan Srilam, deputy spokesperson for the DSI, said the department would spend at least a month reviewing the case before making a decision whether to follow the state prosecutors’ recommendation.

“If the DSI disagrees with the state prosecutors, we will send our view to the Office of the Attorney-General for a final ruling,” he said.

Mr Chaiwat and the three co-accused surrendered to the DSI in November and denied all charges. The DSI sought their detention but the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases released them on bail of 800,000 baht each.