Pubdate: Fri, 05 Apr 2002
Source: Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Copyright: The Post Publishing Public Co., Ltd. 2002
Contact:  http://www.bangkokpost.co.th/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/39
Author: Wassayos Ngarmkham

POLICE HOLD PAIR AFTER ABDUCTION, MURDER OF SUSPECTED DRUG DEALER

Two men have been arrested in connection with the abduction of an alleged 
drug trafficker who was found dead in Pathum Thani in December last year.

Police believe Suriya Jindamart, 38, and Pattarapong Puangsri, 35, belong 
to a crime syndicate.

The two suspects allegedly told police investigators that they also had a 
hand in two other murders which took place in November last year and March 
this year.

They were arrested in the Lat Phrao area on Wednesday.

Found in their possession were a 9mm pistol, 12 rounds of ammunition, 
mobile phones and business cards of local and national politicians.

Among the cards was that of Sakorn Busayawadee, an Udon Thani provincial 
councillor allegedl to have masterminded the murder of a businesswoman in 
Bangkok last month.

The two suspects were charged in connection with the abduction and murder 
of Chakrit Purathananont, who was last seen on Dec 6 last year when he 
drove off in his car with more than three million baht in cash.

Police said the two suspects denied the murder charge and implicated an 
official of the Narcotics Control Board known only as ``Sergeant Niew''.

Mr Suriya allegedly told police he was hired for 300,000 baht to drive the 
kidnappers around. He claimed Chakrit was killed by Sgt Niew, who was known 
to be a close aide to a former Democrat MP.

The suspect also said Chakrit was involved in a drug racket in the Klong 
Toey area.

Mr Pattarapong, meanwhile, allegedly told police he was hired for 120,000 
baht to look out for Chakrit.

He identified his contacts as Sgt Niew and two other men called Bang Mat 
and Khaek. He also said the three ran a drug racket in Bangkok.

Mr Pattarapong claimed that after Chakrit was captured by the gang, he was 
ordered to take the victim's car and abandon it in the Ekkamai area. The 
others drove off with Chakrit in another car.

Police said Mr Pattarapong also admitted his involvement in two other 
murder cases.

One involved a 30-year old woman who was kidnapped in Uthai Thani in 
November last year, and the other two drug couriers from the North.

Mr Pattarapong denied killing any of the victims; saying he served as a 
driver in the woman's abduction case, and that it was Mr Suriya who shot 
the two drug couriers.

Police were working to establish the identity of ``Sgt Niew''.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart