Ex-Samut Prakan councillor surrenders over murder charges

Police are objecting to Samak's release on bail, because even though he denies any wrongdoing, authorities suspect he had a motive for the attempted murder.

Deputy national police chief Pol General Pansiri Prapawat said that after three suspects were arrested and a manhunt was launched for another two, there was enough suspicion against Samak, 84, to get an arrest warrant for him. Pansiri said he contacted police yesterday afternoon to give himself up.

After an hour of interrogation, Pansiri said, Samak admitted to knowing Pracha well, but insisted he was innocent and was willing to fight the case in court.

Pansiri said investigators had discovered that Samak had a motive to kill Pracha because he had uncovered dubious dealings in relation to a construction project in Samut Prakan, which could have caused losses of between Bt17 million Bt19 million for the contractors, including Samak.

"We spent three months compiling evidence after the shooting incident and found that the uncovering of corruption could have been a possible motive," he said.

"The arrest of the hitmen and the person who identified the target resulted in a partial confession, while phone records have helped police put the jigsaw pieces together, leading to an arrest warrant for Samak, who is believed to be the mastermind."

Earlier, Crime Suppression Police deputy commander Pol Colonel Prasopchoke Phromkul led a team of 50 police officers to nab Samak at his home in Samut Phra Chedi district and his shrimp farm a kilometre away at 6am, but he could not be found. His relatives told police that they would urge Samak to surrender, and sought information about possible bail release.

On May 10 at 10pm, Pracha was driving home after attending a funeral when he was ambushed and shot at by a group of gunmen on Suksawat Road.