Mastermind 'may be close to Jakkrit's wife'
THE MASTERMIND behind the killing of former Olympian shooter Jakkrit Panichpatikum is most likely somebody who is very close to the sportsman's wife, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt-General Camronwit Toopgrajank said yesterday.
“We believe somebody close to her took out a contract [on Jakkrit’s life],” the senior police office said after emerging from a meeting on the investigation. Jakkrit was fatally shot on October 19 while on his way to meet his wife, Dr Nithiwadee Phucharoenyos, and their children.
Police have now identified “family dispute” as the motive behind the killing. Earlier this year, Nithiwadee and Jakkrit’s mother publicly sought help from Social Development and Human Security Minister Pavena Hongsakul over domestic violence.
Nithiwadee’s family also recently hired bodyguards for her. The police have interrogated these four men, who are members of Royal Thai Air Force, and are convinced they are in no way involved in the crime.
Meanwhile, an informed source said Jakkrit’s assets were worth several million baht and his life-insurance policies had a combined coverage of more than Bt14 million, with his wife and their children named as beneficiaries.
“The investigation is making good progress and arrest warrants for the mastermind, the killer and their accomplices should be issued before the end of this week,” the source said.
It added that the killing team possibly had four members – one whose job was to identify Jakkrit, another to drive the getaway vehicle, one to do the actual shooting and the fourth to protect the gunman. “Police are monitoring three of these suspects,” the source said.