Coal activist's murder trial opens
The trial over the death of activist Thongnak Sawekchinda, who led the protest against coal transport in Tambon Tha Sai of Samut Sakhon's Muang district, opened yesterday with all defendants present, except recently murdered suspect Sutchadech Thabkrai.
The five defendants to testify about the July 28, 2011 murder were Thanayos Wongpim, 53, a transport operator accused of being a hirer; Nipon Yantalapa, 34; Jakkapong Kwanphan-ngam, 22; Yothin Thep-rian, 25; and village headman Sittichok Nopnom. The alleged target-identifier Sutchadech, 28, was listed as a deceased suspect. On the other side, Thongnak’s wife Jomkwan produced four witnesses to testify, including Thongnak’s sister Wandee.
A police probe has found Sutchadech was involved with drug-dealing and gunman-for-hire gangs, including a drug network in Samut Sakhon prison. Police said security cameras at nine locations, which could have helped identify Sutchadech’s killers, were broken. Also the pick-up truck the shooters used had disappeared in Krathum Ban district, police said. The province has allocated Bt4.5 million to fix the broken cameras and install more at the nine locations, which should be complete in two months.
