Prison warden, 2 inmates killed at Khao Bin Prison in Ratchaburi
A prison warden and two inmates were killed after the guard was taken hostage at knifepoint yesterday at Ratchaburi's maximum security Khao Bin Prison. A third prisoner who surrendered was not injured.
The two inmates who were killed at 5.30pm after a two-hour stand-off with officials. They were identified as Ronnachai Sripankaew and Prasit Saensabai. The third prisoner, Sutthirat Saeng-arthit, a former police officer, survived by surrendering to officials.
Prison warden was identified as Suthep Joisriket.
Sutthirat’s surrender reportedly upset the other two inmates, who slit Suthep’s wrists and throat. So officials raided the building, which was under construction, where the hostage was held and shot the two inmates. Suthep, who had served at the prison for only a year, was pronounced as dead.
The drama took place after Suthep caught the trio trying to hot-wire and steal a backhoe, which they planned to use to run down a prison gate, so the trio held him hostage at knife point.
The three were imprisoned for life on murder and drug-smuggling charges. Corrections Department deputy Kobkiat Kasiwiwat said the three had planned to make their getaway assuming a shortage of guards on the holiday break.
