Silent alleged killer out on 500k baht bail

PHUKET: A second man wanted for the murder of a SuperCheap store manager turned himself in to Phuket City Police on Wednesday.

Nattapong Thongsirthong, 24, arrived at the station with his lawyer after a warrant for his arrest was issued.

“Mr Nattapong refused to answer any of our questions, saying that he would make his statements in front of the judge,” Col Sien Kaewthong of the Phuket City Police said. “He was charged for the murder and for bringing a weapon into a public place.”

Mr Nattapong was released on a 500,000-baht bail.

The warrant for Mr Nattapong was issued after police arrested confessed killer Ong-art MeeKaew, 29, for the murder of store manager Nattapon Nukoon, 26, who was stabbed in front of his house on July 2 (story here).

Mr Ong-art was arrested on July 3. He told police that the second man seen in the CCTV footage was Mr Nattapong.

“Mr Nattapong worked under Mr Nattapon. He was transferred to another branch, but refused to go and was finally fired,” Phuket City Police Superintendent Kraithong Chanthongbai told the Phuket Gazette after Mr Ong-art’s arrest.

Police expect the case to go to court in the next two months, confirmed Col Sien.

Mr Ong-art remains in the jailhouse at the Phuket Provincial Court.

— Kongleaphy Keam