Military hands over massacre suspects
Re-enactment held in Krabi police station
Eight suspects in the execution-style shooting of eight family members in Krabi province were handed over to police yesterday by the military.
The Royal Thai Army at the 15th Infantry Battalion in Klong Thom district turned over the suspects to national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda, who flew from Bangkok along with his deputy Pol Gen Chalermkiat Sriworakhan, his assistant Pol Lt Gen Chaiwat Ketwarachai; and chief of Provincial Police Region 1 Pol Lt Gen Chanthep Sesawej.
The handover was made at Krabi police station. The suspects are Surikfat Bannopwongsakul, 41, thought to have masterminded the massacre, Khomsan Wiangnon, 41, Abdullo Dolo, 30, Arun Thongkham, 29, Prachak Bunthoi, 36, Thanachai Chamnong, 41, Thawatchai Bunkhong, 37, and Chalita Sangkhachot, 41.
The suspects wore bulletproof vests and crash helmets when soldiers handed them to police, who were waiting with the arrest warrants.
All the suspects underwent a medical check-up by a team from Krabi Hospital, and had their fingerprints taken.
Police reportedly asked the suspects to re-enact the alleged crime in the police station’s conference room without taking them to the crime scene, out of concern for their safety.
Pol Gen Chakthip said the suspects had been briefly questioned by officers with their lawyers present. The police will take them to the Krabi Provincial Court to seek a detention order for them and will oppose any bail requests.
The massacre took place at the house of village head Worayut Sanglang in Ao Luk district on July 10. Eight people were shot dead in the house, including Worayut.
The police chief reaffirmed that the killing stemmed from disputes over a land mortgage deal between Worayut and Mr Surikfat.
Police earlier said Mr Surikfat is believed to have duped Worayut’s father-in-law into signing land sale documents, without the latter being fully aware of what he was doing.
When Worayut found out what was happening, he planned to bring a lawsuit against Mr Surikfat.
The dispute is believed to have triggered the massacre, according to police.
Pol Gen Chakthip said police will summon Pol Lt Col Santhana Prayoonrat, former deputy chief of Special Branch Division 2, to testify with deputy police chief Sutep Dechrugsa after the latter claimed that a woman, “Jae Chumphon”, was also involved in the killing.
The police chief said he had no information about Pol Lt Col Santhana’s claim and if his statement is found to be false, he would be held accountable.
He said he has instructed local police officers to keep monitoring the situation on the ground to make sure there are no reprisals.
According to the police chief, if the investigation indicates more people are involved in the case, they will be arrested and prosecuted.
He insisted no scapegoats have been arrested in this case.