Belgian man arrested for murder of fellow countryman in Isaan

Police in the Isaan province of Nakhon Panom arrested a Belgian man for the murder of a fellow countryman on Saturday, May 25, as the murderer was destroying evidence of the crime.

Officers from the Investigation Division Provincial Police Region 4 were on duty at a checkpoint on No. 212 Road in the Ban Paeng district of Nakhon Panom and noticed the murderer, later identified as a 42 year old Belgian man named Steve Rossignon, abandoning a motorcycle in a pond.

Officers grew suspicious of Rossgnon and approached him for questioning, prompting Rossgnon to flee the scene. However, he was quickly arrested and questioned. Rossignon eventually confessed to killing his Belgian friend, 49 year old Christophe Hercot.

Officers then escorted the suspect to Seka Police Station in the Isaan province of Bueng Karn where the murder took place.

Rossignon explained that he and the deceased were friends, and both of them had Thai wives. According to Rossgnon, Hercot had repeatedly asked him for money, and this sparked the issue that led to the murder.

Rossignon stated that Hercot came to his building, where he planned to open a cafe and garage, to demand 850,000 baht for his visa renewal and a rented house.

Constant threats lead to murder

Rossignon refused to give Hercot the requested amount, prompting Hercot to be angry and threaten to harm Rossgnon’s family and burn down his building.

In a fit of anger, Rossgnon shot Hercot three times leading the deceased to die at the scene. Rossignon then burned the body and attempted to dispose of Hercot’s motorcycle in Nakhon Panom before being caught.

A relative of Rossgnon’s Thai wife, Siwarat Thongdaeng, told ThaiRath that Rossgnon was a good and kind person but grew stressed due to Hercot’s constant borrowing and threats.

Siwarat revealed that Rossgnon reported Hercot’s behaviour to the police multiple times but received no resolution and that the family had lived in fear for their safety.

According to ThaiRath, Rossgnon faces three charges including:

Section 288 of the Criminal Law: intentional murder. The punishment is the death penalty, life imprisonment, and imprisonment from 15 to 20 years.

Section 199 of the Criminal Law: secretly burying, concealing, moving, or destroying a corpse or parts of a corpse. The penalty is imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of up to 2,000 baht, or both.

Section 7 of the Act on Firearms, Ammunition, Explosive, Fireworks, and Imitation Firearm: possessing a gun without permission. The punishment will be imprisonment for up to 10 years, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both.

Rossgnon’s family did not submit any bail request, and Rossgnon would be imprisoned today, May 27.