PM demands sentencing review after “Jack the Ripper” serial killer case

18 motorbike taxi drivers are sentenced to prison for their involvement in a mass street fight in June 2019 where a bystander was killed by a stray bullet. Bangkok’s Prakhonong Court handed down prison sentences ranging from 5 years to more than 27 years, according to Thai media.

The fight broke out between two gangs of win drivers, named by Thai media as Soi 1 and Soi 2, on Soi Udomsuk 1 in Bangkok’s Bang Na district. Around 50 to 60 drivers from Soi 1 attacked 20 to 30 drivers from Soi 2 with knives and other weapons, apparently because Soi 2 drivers, who were unregistered and operated without the proper orange identification vests, took customers away from the Soi 1 group.

A 20 year old Kerry Express courier, Weerawat Pheungkrut, was shot and killed when a stray bullet struck him in the left eyebrow. The drivers who were directly involved with the murder were sentenced to the longest prison terms, including leader of Soi 1 known as Pramuk. He was sentenced to 27 years and 10 months in prison and ordered to pay a 5,000 baht fine as well as 280,000 baht in compensation with a 7.5% yearly interest.

Other drivers with high prison sentences and also ordered to pay 280,000 baht in compensation with a 7.5% yearly interest:

• Best was sentenced to 27 years in prison and ordered to pay a 5,000 baht.
• Am was sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay a 5,000 baht fine.
• X was sentenced to 24 years and 6 months in prison and ordered to pay a 2,500 baht fine.

Drivers with lower prison sentences:

• Beer was sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in prison and ordered to pay a 6,666 baht fine.
• Too, Nui, Bank, Fluke, Mai, Tam and Moo and Jack were sentenced to 5 years in prison and ordered to pay a 5,000 baht fine.
• Oo, Nott, Bank and Ae were sentenced to 4 years and 6 months in prison and ordered to pay a 5,000 baht fine.

SOURCE: Thai Visa

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12 Thais were arrested by Chaing Rai Immigration Police for allegedly illegally crossing the Myanmar border back into Thailand. The arrests follow a small coronavirus outbreak in Northern Thailand while Myanmar reports hundreds of new Covid-19 cases each day.

Over the weekend, a 29 year old Thai woman tested positive for Covid-19 in Chiang Mai after visiting the hospital with flu-like symptoms. She recently returned to Thailand from Myanmar where she worked at a bar in Tachileik. 2 other women, ages 23 and 26, worked at the same bar tested positive for Covid-19 after returning to Thailand, Chiang Rai public health officials reported today.

Of the 12 people recently arrested for illegally crossing the Thai-Myanmar border, 4 of them were arrested yesterday after a woman made a post on Facebook saying her and her friends used a natural route to cross into Thailand. They allegedly told police they were working illegally in Myanmar.

8 other Thai women were arrested today for illegally crossing the border from Tachileik into Chiang Rai. They allegedly told police that they each paid 6,500 baht to Myanmar traffickers to avoid border checks.

The women told police that most Thais returning home from Myanmar were in the country working at entertainment venues.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand

A police officer was arrested for allegedly firing shots in an Isaan restaurant, killing a married couple and severely injuring his ex-wife. 44 year old Aram Sangchai is facing charges of premeditated murder.

Aram had just returned home to the Isaan province Buri Ram from Bangkok after working with a police unit at the November 27 pro-democracy protest. The Bangkok Post says Aram “stormed” into the restaurant with a handgun and opened fire. He waited at the restaurant and surrendered to police.

The victims were taken to the Non Suwan Hospital where Jaran and Somkid Sukwong, ages 42 and 37, were pronounced dead. Aram’s ex-wife, 42 year old Nucharin Kaewchaturat, was transferred to Buri Ram Hospital and is in serious condition.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post