Four murder suspects rounded up in Phuket

PATONG, PHUKET: Kathu Police continue to investigate the June 21 shooting murder of 24-year-old Daruwat “Bank” Burintarakot, a nephew of murdered business tycoon Komkai Kositkun.

A major break in the case came last Wednesday afternoon, when Kathu Police led by Superintendent Grissak Songmoonnark and Duty Officer Jakkapong Luang-on arrested four suspects.

Col Grissak identified the men as:

Wuttichai Burintarakot from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, age 47;

Natthapon Wongsuriya from Songkhla, age 37;

Thin Nokroorak from Trang, age 36;

Amaron Yeebu from Songkla, age 22.

Mr Wuttichai is a cousin of the deceased.

The four were arrested after they returned to the scene of the shooting: the remains of Jintana Plaza, which was the target of at least five arson attacks in the last two years.

The shootout, which left stunned tourists running for cover, left three men wounded.

Among them was the alleged shooter of Bank, 61-year-old former Police Captain Sunan Potsawatpairoj.

Sunan, who sustained two gunshot wounds to the leg in the gun battle, was recently released after paying 500,000 baht in bail.

Evidence in the case includes images of Sunan, gun raised, just moments before firing the shot to the chest that killed Mr Daruwat, it was recently reported in the local media.

After their arrests on Wednesday the four suspects denied charges of premeditated murder.

They will not be allowed bail, Col Grissak said.

They are being held in cells at Phuket Provincial Court, a source at the court said.

Police are also investigating to see who ordered the killing of Mr Darawut, Col Grissak said.

— Atchaa Khamlo