Former deputy commerce minister Banyin Tangpakorn, along with 5 other suspects, is facing charges from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) relating to the killing of a senior judge’s brother.

Deputy chief of the CSD Anek Taosupab, says investigators are planning to question Banyin in prison over the murder of Wirachai Sakuntaprasoet, (brother of Criminal Court senior judge Phanida Sakuntaprasoet).

Banyin is currently detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison, where he is serving time for forging documents to transfer 263 million baht worth of shares to two associates. The court found Banyin guilty of colluding with Kanthana Siwathanapol, a former golf caddie, and stockbroker Uracha Wachirakulton to transfer the assets of the late billionaire contractor Chuwong Sae Tang.

The suspects allegedly tried to force Judge Phanida to drop Banyin’s charges in the share transfer case. The CSD say they have evidence, including forensic tests, to prosecute murder charge against Banyin and the five other suspects.

According to a report, Judge Phanida asked Wirachai to pick her up from work after she was assigned to hear Banyin’s forgery case. When the victim arrived at the court, he was kidnapped and later killed. The case was then assigned to another judge, and the trial ended with Banyin sentenced to 8 years in prison for forgery.

Currently, Banyin and the suspects are facing charges of assault, abduction and threatening a state official.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

Police in the Tak province, northern Thailand, yesterday arrested two Burmese nationals for trying to smuggle 16.5 million baht in cash into Thailand. Authorities say the two, identified as 29 year old Ded Paioou, and a 24 year old woman called “Namitu” were arrested in tambon Tha Sai Luad, following a tip-off.

Officers say the pair were driving a pickup truck with Burmese licence plates and entered Thailand by the second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge. Having passed through the immigration checkpoint, they headed toward Wang Ta Kean, a village about 200 metres from the customs checkpoint. Police then flagged the car down for a search.

The suspects had all the documents required for entry, but police found 16,500 1,000-baht banknotes in two black plastic bags in the car.

Police say the pair claimed they were going to deposit the cash at a Kasikorn bank in Mae Sot. Unfortunately for them, they couldn’t prove they had an account with the bank.

The pair were charged with trying to bring Thai currency into the country without declaring it to customs.

The Central Investigation Bureau chief ordered police to take the suspects and the confiscated money to Crime Suppression Division 4, which is investigating where the money came from. Police say the Anti-Money Laundering Office was also asked to press an additional charge of money laundering against them.

The Burmese border is notorious for drug smuggling, as well as human trafficking activities.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

Too close and too many people. Over 100 have been arrested illegally gambling in a secret casino near the Nonthaburi Market.

The Department of Provincial Administration raided a casino in the greaterBangkok Metro Area‘s Nonthaburi province and discovered 200,000 baht in cash, Hi-Low boards and two gaming machines, along with 108 people, some estimates as high as 122, taking part in the illegal activity and ignoring the health and safety regulations of social distancing and refraining from large gathering during this emergency Covid-19 crisis.

The game of choice at the casino was Thai style Hi-Low which is played using a Hi-Low board with a dice shaker and two to three dice. The gambler will place their money on a number square from one to six. Once the dice are cast and the results come up, the winner then takes all, but more often than not, the house wins (surprise!).

The DOPA received a tip from locals in the area worried about lack of social distancing as a potential hot bed for the virus. The residents said, despite the Emergency Decree, curfew, and social distancing requests issued by the government, people were still coming to gamble every day.

When officials arrived at Soi Piboonsongkram 32, officers confiscated the gambling equipment and arrested all 108 before they had a chance to escape. All who were arrested along with the security officers involved in the raid will all remain in quarantine for the next 14 days.

SOURCE: Khaosod :Thai Residents