Thu, May 23, 2013 14:52:32 PM
Bangkok Post
Thu, May 23, 2013 14:52:32 PM
Bangkok Post
The Phetchaburi Court has refused bail for Pol Col Supat Laohawattana, a physician at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok who is accused of murdering at least four people.
In his submission to the court, Sawang Noomjui said his son Samart and his wife Orasa Kerdsap disappeared in 2009 along with a Toyota pick-up truck. With information from Suthep Laohawattana, Pol Col Supat's elder brother, Mr Sawang found the vehicle on Sept 15 at the house of Pol Col Supat in Nonthaburi province.
He said Mr Suthep had also told him that Samart and Orasa were each shot in the head by Pol Col Supat. Their bodies were buried at Pol Col Supat's farm in tambon Klad Luang of Tha Yang district in Phetchaburi.
On Sept 20-22, three human skeletons were found buried at the farm. One of the skeletons was believed to be Samart, Mr Sawang's son. The other two bodies were believed to be Myanmar workers.
Pol Col Pichai Pokpong, Tha Mai Ruak police chief in Tha Yang district, said police had ended the search at the property for more bodies.
He said Wilsa Chanthornbanchorn, Pol Col Supat's wife, had also contacted police and offered to surrender. However, the exact date and time for her surrender had not been fixed, Pol Col Pichai said.
Pol Lt-Gen Jongjate Aojanepong, the surgeon-general and director of the Police General Hospital, said he had signed an order dismissing Pol Col Supat from the police force, pending further investigation into the case.
Pol Col Supat's lawyer Pornthep Suwanvichien said he received information concerning the disapperance of Samart and Orasa.
Mr Pornthep said the couple were reportedly arrested in a neighbouring country on drug charges.
The lawyer said his client was not aware of the three human skeletons found in his farm and that another person rented the land for more than 10 years.
Phetchaburi police escorted Pol Col Supat to the court on Monday morning and applied for permission to further detain the doctor pending further investigation.
Pol Lt-Col Prasarn Jangpanich, the chief investigator, told the court the defendant might try to intimidate witnesses if he was allowed free on bail.
Mr Sawang also petitioned the court to deny him bail.
The court accepted the submissions and refused bail.
Photos by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd
