ANOTHER suspect in the murder of a Thai couple in Taiwan, with the woman five-month pregnant with twins, was arrested in Kalasin province early this morning (June 19) after the Criminal Court issued warrants for two more persons following the surrender of the prime suspect on Friday, Naewna newspaper said.
At 7 a.m. this morning Central Investigation Bureau police team rounded up Mr. Thanawat (surname withheld), 42, under the warrant issued yesterday on the charges of “joining others in premeditated murder of others” in front of a house without a number in this province.
His arrest followed the surrender of Mr. Santi Supaphiradipailin, or Wang or Aseng, 35, in Chiang Mai on Friday after which he was flown to Bangkok for interrogation undertaken by National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Suwat Chaengyodsuk.
In his preliminary testimony after being arrested Thanawat had already confessed that he, along with Santi and one other person, used iron rods to kill Ms. Potjanee Sae Li, or Ami, 35, and her husband, only identified as Mr. Prasert, 32. Their bodies were found in the boot of a BMW sedan at a train station in Taiwan.
Police are chasing the third suspect while also expediting investigation to take legal action as soon as possible.
Santi had after being being interrogated all night changed his testimony admitting that he had joined two others in killing the Thai couple and not Taiwanese mafia as earlier claimed and that he was the one who lured them to a meeting where they were murdered.
He had earlier said that he had arranged a meeting between the couple and the Taiwanese mafia to clear some business debts but a fierce argument ensued. The mafia then killed the couple, assigning him with the responsibility of putting their bodies in the boot of the sedan and parking it at the station.
However police were not convinced by this claim because the suspect could say anything at all.
As for possible conflicts over the couple’s joint business with Santi in recruiting Thai workers for jobs in Taiwan, police said it was true they were doing this business but it did not lead to a point of conflict breaking out.
CAPTIONS:
Top: Thanawat being arrested this morning.
Front Page: Santi after his surrender on Friday. Both photos: Naewna
Also read: Suspect in murder of Thai couple in Taiwan surrenders, being quizzed
Pregnant woman’s brother asks police to track down killer
Thailand asked to help arrest suspect in murder of Thai couple in Taiwan
