BANGKOK, June 14 – A fourth suspect in the murder of outspoken businessman Akeyuth Anchanbutr surrendered to police today but denied an accusation that he killed the victim.
Suthipong Pimpisan, also known as Berm, confessed to police that he was hired by detained Santiparb Pengduang, Mr Akeyuth’s driver, but said he did not kill the businessman.
He said Mr Santiparb himself strangled Mr Akeyuth and beat him to death while the victim was trying to escape from the gang on Chalongkrung Road in Latkrabang, a Bangkok suburb.
Mr Suthipong said he was told by Mr Santiparb to take the body into the van, used the shoelace to strangle Akeyuth again after his death and helped bury the body in the southern province of Phatthalung.
The victim’s driver also gave him 100,000 baht in cash before separating.
The fourth suspect said as he heard media reports that he was a prime suspect in the killing, his mother contacted the police for his surrender.
Mr Suthipong is now in police detention and was taken to Phatthalung, together with Santiparb, to locate the burial site. Police will further question them as they provided conflicting accounts.
The court today also approved, as sought by police, the 12-day detention of another two accomplices in the case, Tivakorn Kuathong, 18, and Chaovalit Woonchum, 23.
Police earlier opposed bail request for all the suspects as they allegedly committed serious offences in the highly-publicised murder case and the investigation is on progress. More accomplices are also being sought after.
The accused will be charged with armed robbery, causing death to another and concealing the body. (MCOT online news)
