A MAN who was arrested in the murder of a half Thai and British youth in Lampang province last Sunday (May 7) confessed after lengthy interrogation that he did commit the crime after being double-crossed in a drug deal, TV Channel 7 said this afternoon (May 9).
Pol. Lt. Gen. Piya Tawichai, commander of Provincial Police Region 5, and Pol. Maj. Gen. Weerachon Boonthawee, the deputy chief, together their team had been chasing the suspect after the body of the unidentified youth was found eight metres away from Ban Mae Than-Sop Prap road in Mae Tha district, with his face severely beaten and his jaw broken, around 12 hours after his death on Sunday.
The deceased youth’s girlfriend, only identified as Ms. Pong, 16, had disappeared with her fate unknown.
Upon being arrested Mr. Chaiwat (surname withheld), or Wat, 44, initially denied killing the youth. Only after interrogation lasting all night till this afternoon did he confess to committing this crime.
The suspect told police that the youth and his girlfriend were drug runners and he had arranged to pick up some drugs at the grove. But upon getting there he found that the youth had lied to him about where it was hidden and being certain that he had kept it for himself, he got very angry and beat him with a stick until he died there.
However the suspect refused to say anything about Pong’s whereabouts.
Mae Tha police had rushed to investigate this murder and found the suspect’s motorcycle which he had parked at a relative’s cow shed at around 9 p.m. on Saturday accompanied with a young girl who is likely Pong.
He told his relative he was leaving his motorcycle overnight to go rent a house for his minor wife and rode off on another one. He returned on Sunday and parked the motorbike he had used behind the shed and disappeared. This morning police seized this motorbike.
While police are still searching for Pong, they think she is safe.
Police added that the suspect had previously committed two sex crimes and was only released from prison eight months ago.
CAPTION:
Pixelated image of the suspect at Mae Tha police station. Photo: TV Channel 7
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