Woman linked to murder probe

 

Police are looking for a woman who might have been involved in Democrat MP Khanchit Thabsuwan’s alleged shooting of political rival Udorn Kraiwatnusorn in a high-profile killing last month.

The photo of a woman, identified merely as Kuk, was shown to police investigators at a meeting at Muang Samut Sakhon Police Station yesterday, with statements suggesting she might be the reason behind the shooting, police sources said. No further details were available about the woman, or her alleged relationship with either the suspect or the victim.

Police said they were ready to indict Khanchit, despite not having done a forensic study of a .40-calibre gun in the suspect’s possession – the same type of firearm used in the fatal shooting – and a trajectory study, according to the crime scene investigation. The Democrat MP has been charged with premeditated murder and is now on bail after surrendering to police before the current New Year holiday break.

Khanchit has not yet handed in the firearm for inspection, as ordered by police after the deadline ended yesterday. Station chief Pol Colonel Jamraeng Sudjai said it was not a problem that could cause delay in seeking the indictment of the MP to the public prosecutors.

Seven pistols of the same type are owned by local residents, including one registered in Khanchit’s name. The officer said police were considering seeking a search warrant for Khanchit’s home. There had earlier been a rumour about a love-triangle relationship between the suspect, the victim and an unidentified woman, but former Democrat MP Anek, Khanchit’s father, has already dismissed it publicly.

Democrat MP Niphit Intharasombat, Khanchit’s legal counsellor, said Khanchit would comply with any police request, welcoming even their approach to him at Parliament yesterday, but he preferred not to see any progress in the investigation being revealed to the public through the media. He was responding to a police statement that Khanchit’s mother had not accepted their written request for him to submit his firearm for inspection.

“I don’t know about his mother not accepting the request, but I know that he lives in another home, and has been therefore unaware of the written request sent to him,” Niphit said.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung said he knew “every little single detail about the motive” behind the killing, but would rather not speak about the case, before repeating his statement that politics was not behind Udorn’s murder. Udorn was head of the Provincial Administrative Organisation affiliated with coalition leader Pheu Thai Party.