DEPUTY National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn said this afternoon (May 2) that a policeman has been found to be linked to the cyanide serial killings with a request for a warrant for his arrest being made soon while a company in Bangkok is suspected to have imported the lethal poison, Naewna newspaper said.
Pol. Gen. Surachate, nicknamed Big Joke, added that a lot of progress had been made in this case with a meeting held today to speed up investigation into all killings, totalling 14 so far, with one survivor.
Altogether 10 arrest warrants have been issued against Ms. Sararat Rangsiwutthaporn, or Am, with police gathering evidence in four more deaths.
“Police are currently checking evidence linking one person close to the suspect to committing the crime… evidence shows that this person is a policeman who has been previously questioned.
“Examination of financial routes, phone calls and other behaviour clearly show a link. Initially, as police have clear evidence, a request will be made to the court to issue an arrest warrant in a day or two,” he said.
The source of the cyanide has been traced to a company located in the Lat Krabang area of Bangkok. Police are now requesting a search warrant from the court while coordinating with the head of the Department of Industrial Works and the Food and Drug Administration to carry out an inspection.
This company has to specify the purpose of importing this toxin which has to be controlled and not leaked out to use for other purposes, he said, if wrongdoing is found the importer too will be prosecuted.
Moreover, a financial audit of the suspect’s accounts has now been completed.
It was found that the suspect’s modus operandi was to lace food, water and Covid-19 prevention herbs with cyanide for the victims to consume.
Pol. Gen. Surachate mentioned that police are now investigating whether the suspect sold life insurance policies and verifying if any of those insured are still alive. If they have died it has to be ascertained who the beneficiaries are.
Also being investigated are import of vehicles and the death of Ms. Monthathip Kao-in, or Sai, in Thonglor area.
However he admitted that there were flaws in the investigation of the death of Pol. Maj. Nipa Saenchan as although the result had stated that “cyanide was found” no action was taken.
Investigation process will now be adjusted with autopsy to be performed on all those who died unnaturally even if their relatives do not harbour any suspicion, he said.
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Top: Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Surachate Hakparn, left, and suspect Ms. Sararat Rangsiwutthaporn, or Am.
Front Page: Cyanide killing suspect Ms. Sararat Rangsiwutthaporn, or Am, surrounded by police. Both photos: Thai Rath
Also read: 14 cyanide deaths so far, more being investigated
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