Suspect denies hiring Jakkrit's killer
Santi 'never met' victim's mother-in-law, who has confessed to ordering hit
THE ALLEGED PROCURER of the hitman who has confessed to killing Olympic sharpshooter Jakkrit Panichpatikum yesterday insisted that he knew nothing about the murder plot and had never met the victim’s mother-in-law – who allegedly put out the contract – or received any blood money from her.
“I deny all charges against me,” Santi Thongsame said as he showed up at Metropolitan Police headquarters with some supporters who he said were his attorneys.
“I will oppose his bail request out of concern that he may intimidate witnesses,” Metropolitan Police commissioner Lt-General Camronwit Toopgrajank said.
Santi, who is also a lawyer, is accused of finding the gunman for Surang Duangjinda, the mother of Jakkrit’s wife, Dr Nithiwadee Phucharoenyos.
On October 19, Jakkrit was fatally shot while driving to meet his family. The couple had a rocky relationship. Earlier this year, Nithiwadee and Jakkrit’s mother had complained publicly of acts of domestic violence committed by the sharpshooter.
On Monday, Surang confessed to masterminding Jakkrit’s murder to end his attacks on his wife and children. Surang’s acquaintance Worraphanphooree Montreeareekul has implicated both Surang and Santi. The suspected gunman, Jeerasak Klinkhai, has also told police that he received payment for the job from Santi.
Worraphanphooree has said she introduced Santi to Surang because the latter wanted to hire a hitman. Both Worraphanphooree and Surang said they met Santi at the hospital room where Nithiwadee was recuperating from a miscarriage reportedly caused by domestic violence, to arrange the killing.
Footage from the hospital’s closed-circuit television system shows a man resembling Santi with Surang.
“No. I’ve never met her. I don’t even know where that hospital is,” Santi said.
While he knew Worraphan-phooree and Jeerasak, he had never planned any murder with them, he said. Although records show that he and Worraphanphooree talked on the phone on October 19, it was about another case, he said. “She’s my client. I had been talking to her debtors,” he said.
He also insisted that he had not gone on the run during the past week.
“I just wanted to spend time planning my surrender. I want to prove my innocence,” he said.
Camronwit said Santi had the right to say whatever he liked but the evidence would speak louder.
“We have solid proof,” he said.
