Jeab murder case lodged with court

PATTAYA: The Provincial Court in Pattaya has renewed bail for Sam Van Treeck, the 24-year-old Belgian man accused of murdering Phuket-based divemaster Chompoonut “Jeab” Kobram, 23.

Van Treeck’s bail was renewed on Monday (September 20), the same day as the police submitted their case to the court.

K. Jeab was found dead on June 25 in Van Treeck’s apartment in Pattaya. She had been stabbed 48 times. Van Treeck was charged with premeditated murder but denies this, claiming K. Jeab was already dead when he arrived home.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Pol Maj Chalermkiat Sirimak, of Tambon Dong Tan Police Station, told the Gazette that the police and the prosecutor lodged the case against Van Treeck with Pattaya Provincial Court on Monday.

“The investigation is finished and now it depends on the court when the accused will stand trial,” he said.

Maj Chalermkiat added that the last time he had heard about Van Treeck’s whereabouts, the accused was staying at the Belgian Embassy in Bangkok. Van Treeck may be required, as a condition of bail, to report to court officials every 15 days or every month until the trial begins.

Cherie, K. Jeab’s three-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, is currently being cared for by relatives in Buri Ram.