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.
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.
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.
