Tong murder suspects released on bail

PHUKET TOWN: Hugo Vandervelde, on trial for involvement in the murder of American Danis Wayne Tong in June 1997, was released on bail of 1 million baht on Friday. Vandervelde was arrested in November 1997 and had been in custody ever since. Chief Justice Ampan Sombatstapornkul told the Gazette, “His attorney failed on several occasions to persuade the Phuket Provincial Court to release him on bail, as the court judged the case too serious to allow it. “On Friday, however, we received a fax from the Appeals Court, Region 8 [in Bangkok], ordering us to free him temporarily.” The Appeals Court, which controls Phuket Provincial Court, issued the instruction after the Belgian Embassy filed an appeal calling for Vandervelde’s release on grounds of fairness and in light of his ill-health. Vandervelde is the fourth person accused in the case to be released on bail. The other three, released on bail of 900,000 baht each, are Pratin Praktong (bailed on June 22), Pairat Raksawong (June 25) and Prajuab Sukkong (July 1). The fifth accused, Manit Panme, remains in custody.