Thai actress cleared of wrongdoing after buying cyanide to kill lizards

The Royal Thai Police found nothing criminal about a famous Thai actress’ online purchase of cyanide after calling her in for questioning last week, deputy national police chief Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn said yesterday.

Preechaya “Ice” Pongthananikorn wept during an interview as she apologised for ordering cyanide without a permit on April 25 for a price of 3,132 baht – from the same source as Thailand’s infamous cyanide killer.

The actress claimed that she ordered the lethal substance to poison snakes and monitor lizards in her back garden which had attacked her pet dogs. Her mother, Bang-on Pongthananikorn, confirmed that her daughter bought cyanide and received the order on April 27…

“I do not want anyone to misunderstand. The cyanide was ordered to prevent snakes and monitor lizards. The floor at the back of our house collapsed and became a habitat for those dangerous animals. Sometimes, they attacked our pet dog and sometimes fought each other. Ice searched on the Internet and found that cyanide can help.”

Yesterday, Big Joke revealed the results of Ice’s interrogation. He said that although she was found to be in possession of a Category 3 Hazardous Substance, she did have a significant amount, so she wouldn’t be criminally punished.

Ice claimed she was unaware that anyone in possession of cyanide needs a permit. She said she’d argued about the purchase with her Swiss boyfriend, who warned her that possessing the chemical was illegal in Switzerland. However, Ice thought it was okay to buy it in Thailand since you can order it online.

Moreover, she said that she never opened the bottle and had already surrendered it to Bang Khen Police Station.

Big Joke said the police identified at least 100 more people who purchased cyanide through the same channel. Police are working their way through the list to investigate the intended use of all the poison.

Cyanide came into the spotlight when Sararat “Am” Rangsiwuthaporn – come to be known as Thailand’s cyanide serial killer – was charged with the murder of 14 people throughout the past few weeks and is likely to be charged with even more as police find more victims. She has escaped the death penalty because she is pregnant.