3 confess in abduction, murder case
Ex-minister remains quiet over allegations
Three suspects, except former deputy commerce minister Banyin Tangpakorn, reportedly confessed to kidnapping the brother of a senior judge in a move to influence her ruling, but reportedly ended up killing the victim.
Wirachai Sakuntaprasoet, the older brother of Bangkok South Criminal Court judge Phanida Sakuntaprasoet, was allegedly abducted while she was hearing a case against Pol Lt Col Banyin over an illegal share transfer.
Five suspects, except the ex-minister, agreed to cooperate with police, a source close to the investigation said yesterday. However, three of the five suspects apparently confessed to the crime.
The suspects have been identified as Manat Thapnin, 67, Narongsak Pomchan, 49, Prachawit Sithongsuk, 33, Chatchai Menkun, 31, and Pol Snr Sgt Maj Thongchai Wachisatcha, 63.
Pol Lt Col Banyin, 56, meanwhile, appeared calm while being escorted from the Crime Suppression Division to the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases in Bangkok. He refused to talk to the media.
Pol Lt Col Banyin’s wife Waraphon is believed to be building his defence once the case goes to court. Police have pressed six charges against him and the five suspects, including premeditated murder, conspiracy to detain a person leading to his or her death, threatening a state official, illegal assembly, demanding a ransom and abduction.
Mr Wirachai was allegedly kidnapped on Feb 4 by four men, including Pol Lt Col Banyin, though Ms Waraphon insists some of the suspects can prove they were at a funeral in Nakhon Sawan, while others can prove they were not at the crime scene.
However, police said Mr Narongsak, Mr Prachawit and Mr Chatchai have admitted to abducting the victim with Pol Lt Col Banyin.
They also led investigators to a house on Ratchada 33 Road in Bangkok, which allegedly belongs to Pol Lt Col Banyin, where they claim the abduction plan was hatched.
On Feb 4, the judge’s brother was allegedly forced into a car near the Bangkok South Civil Court, and while being taken to Nakhon Sawan, Mr Wirachai sustained fatal injuries.
Mr Wirachai’s body was believed to have been burned and his remains stuffed in fertiliser bags and dumped in the Chao Phraya River.
According to a police officer, around 20 pieces of charred bones have been found in tambon Nikhom Khao Bo Kaeo in Nakhon Sawan’s Phayuha Khiri district.
Though the victim’s remains are yet to be retrieved, Crime Suppression Division chief Pol Maj Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej said forensic evidence will be “enough to take further legal action”.