Drugged up slaughterhouse worker kills 2, injures 5 at random

A drugged up slaughterhouse worker has been accused of killing 2 girls and injuring 5 others while going on a random knife attack on his motorbike in Udon Thani. The man, 31 year old Itthiphol Imphueng, from Udon Thani’s Nong Wua So district, worked in Muang district.

His first victim was 16 year old Anchaya Boonyingyuan, who died at Udon Thani Hospital after being rushed there due to her neck being slashed by Itthipol on Si Chom Chuen road, which is located behind the provincial central prison.

His second victim, of whom was stabbed in the neck, was 22 year old Cholada Hinkham, from Muang district. She reportedly died immediately after being attacked on Surakan road.

Itthipol allegedly continued his attacks on his motorcycle, stabbing 4 other women and a 13 year old boy. Police initiated a manhunt for the suspect, finding him at a 5 way intersection on Prajak road. They chased him, with the help of a large number of people, where he was caught and brought to the police station.

Police say he appeared to be high on drugs and upon initial questioning, his responses were confusing. He has been charged with premeditated and attempted murder.

Recently, such checkpoints for drinking and driving, or drugging and driving, were ceased as Thailand’s new police chief temporarily placed a stop on checkpoints over alleged corruption issues in the police department. But there is no word yet on whether such a stop on screening drivers has enabled more senseless crimes such as Itthiphol’s.

The new police chief says there had been questions raised about the reliability of testing for alcohol, with many complaints from people who say they were wrongly charged and convicted.

Further muddying such screenings, is the apparent corruption of some in the police department, who notoriously accept bribes from rule-breakers looking for a free pass. Such corruption has made Thailand infamous as many say police choose money over laws being enforced.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post