Chamnong Channual, aka Carl Strofberg, just
before he is led by police to the scene of his most recent crimes. He
would not return alive from that fateful trip.
Notorious 42 year old Thai-German assassin Chamnong
Channual, aka Carl Strofberg, wanted for 11 murders in Banglamung and
several more in Nakorn Sri Thammarat, was gunned down by local police as
he attempted to escape his arrest for the disappearance and murder of
three employees of the M. Clerching Co. Ltd.
A lengthy investigation into the disappearance of Pornchai Yaemploy,
former manager of the M. Clerching Co. Ltd., along with Somyos and
Somchai (surnames unknown) who were also employed at the company,
eventually led police to Strofberg.
Police first learned that the disappearance of the three employees had
something to do with the equally mysterious disappearance of 3,500,000
baht belonging to the owner of the aforementioned company, Mr. Opart
Boonchan. Mr. Opart stated that he felt the three missing persons had
some knowledge of, or involvement in, the disappearance of his money.
The first break in the case came when police found a Honda Civic
automobile, belonging to the missing Pornchai Yaemploy, in Nakorn Sri
Thammarat province. Police confiscated the vehicle and arrested one Mr.
Chuan, aka Ood Sae-Lim.
During interrogation, Chuan confessed to being part of the abduction and
pointed his finger at three others who abetted; Chamnong Channual, also
known as Carl Strofberg, a well known and much feared hired killer,
Visanu Korsem and Moo (surname unknown).
Chuan confessed to abducting Pornchai and the other two men, shooting
them in the head, and throwing their bodies in a grassy area in
Banglamung. Chuan then took police to the site of the ‘dump’, where, on
November 3rd, they found Pornchai Yaemploy’s body. The body of Somyos
was found in the same area two weeks later, on November 16th. Somchai’s
body has not been found yet, even though police were told it is in the
same area.
On November 19th police announced that they had succeeded in arresting
Carl Strofberg, the 42 year old Thai-German assassin. He was found
walking down Soi Saiyud in Bangkok. After Strofberg confessed to the
crime, he was charged with conspiracy and first degree murder.
Strofberg told police that he and the other killers had split up after
the murders, and that he didn’t know where they were. Strofberg admitted
to two of the murders, and alleged that the third was committed by
Chuan.
Police then took Strofberg to the scene of the crime to look for the
third body. Police said that Strofberg took police to many areas, but
the body was not found. Strofberg told police that had thrown the corpse
away at night and was having difficulty remembering the exact location.
On the way back to the police station, Strofberg told police that he had
to defecate and asked to get out of the car and go in the grass. Police
Captain Ittiphon Achiriyaprasert handcuffed Strofberg with his hands in
front of his body and went with him to monitor his movements. During
this time, the Captain dropped his key ring, whereupon Strofberg quickly
snatched the Captain’s .38 calibre gun from his holster and shot him at
point blank range.
The bullet grazed Captain Ittiphon’s chest and he fell to the ground.
Before Strofberg could fire again, Colonel Somphop and Captain Krisda,
the two other officers who were escorting the suspect, fired 3 shots at
Strofberg. One shot hit him in the forehead, the other 2 below the
ribcage, killing him instantly.
After the incident, further investigation revealed that Strofberg was
dressed in a police uniform when he went to Mr. Pornchai’s room on the
day he abducted him. Police surmise this was the reason that Pornchai
did not protest going with him or cause any fuss which would have
alerted people nearby.
Many police and military uniforms were found in Strofberg’s room. At the
time Strofberg was shot, he had 11 outstanding warrants issued on him
for his involvement in 11 murders. There were also several other
outstanding warrants for him in Nakorn Sri Thammarat province for
robbery and murder.
Strofberg’s life of crime began when he was 18 years old when he joined
a gang of muggers and continued until his life was ended at age 42.
