Khomsan Kerdkaew (2nd left), one of four people
wanted for the August kidnapping and shooting of a pair of Nonthaburi men,
surrenders to police in Huay Yai.
Theerarak Suthathiwong
One of four people wanted for the August kidnapping and
shooting of a pair of Nonthaburi men surrendered to police in Huay Yai.
Khomsan Kerdkaew, 31, of Pranakorn Sri Ayuthaya, turned
himself in Sept. 15. With the earlier arrest of Ornphun “Toi”
Phoomphakdeephun in Bangkok, half of the two men and two women charged with
the Aug. 19 killing of Sakda Mongkolrud, 33, and attempted murder of
Suriyawuth Luaprasong, 32, are now behind bars.
Arrest warrants remain outstanding for alleged ringleader
Punya Kranud, an alleged Pathumthani drug dealer, and Suchawadee “Bow”
Slathongtrong, 23. Ornphun, originally identified as “May” is said to be
Punya’s girlfriend and supposedly had tried to help police capture him, but
failed.
Police claim Punya, 40, recruited Khomsan to help him
kidnap Sakda and Suriyawuth after disputes over drugs and women. The two
female suspects were brought along for the ride.
After the abduction in Nonthaburi, Punya and Khomsan
allegedly took the victims to a house in Huay Yai where they were each shot
in the chest. Suriyawuth said he only survived by feigning death. He claims
the kidnappers then dumped him in a wooded area in Huay Yai and took Sakda
away.
Sakda’s body was later discovered in Nakhon Nayok.
Khomsan told police he’d agreed to be part of the
kidnapping, but wanted out when Punya allegedly planned to murder the two.
However, he said, he was scared of his partner and felt he was forced to
participate.
Huay Yai police said they believe Punya, who has been
arrested five times on drug-dealing charges, is protected by corrupt police
in central Thailand. However, he said Huay Yai police are confident they can
apprehend the “dangerous criminal” and allegedly have been given permission
to shoot him if he resists arrest.
