‘Extortion, theft of millions’ linked to murder of Spaniard

POLICE are on the hunt for a Spanish man believed to be involved in the murder of David Bernat, also a Spanish national, whose body parts were found in the Chao Phraya River a few days ago. 

Initial investigation showed that the suspect, Artur Princep Segarra, received Bt37 million from Bernat’s account in a Singaporean bank, chief investigator Pol General Panya Mamen said. 

Segarra later withdrew the money from ATMs in different locations in Bangkok and other provinces. The last withdrawal was made at 4pm on Thursday from a Kasikornbank ATM in Ayutthaya’s Wang Noi district, he said.

Last week, body parts were found washed up at the banks of the Chao Phraya in different locations, including Charansanitwong 42, in Nonthaburi’s Muang and Pak Kret districts, as well as in Pathum Thani province. DNA tests revealed that the body parts belonged to the same man, who was later identified as Bernat.

The body was identified following DNA tests and fingerprint matching after Bernat’s friends and family reported him missing when he failed to make contact with him for over a week. 

Closed-circuit surveillance showed Segarra walking with a Thai woman, who was later identified only as Pranee.

Pranee later told police that she knew Segarra because she was a friend of his girlfriend Prisna and they used to live in a condominium on Rama 9 Road. 

Police failed to find the suspect at the condo yesterday, but it is believed that Segarra is still on the run in Thailand. 

CCTV images in many locations in Bangkok and Ayutthaya showed Segarra and Prisna withdrawing money from different ATMs, police said. 

Gen Panya said it appeared that the main motive for Bernat’s murder might be robbery, adding that the suspect may have kidnapped the businessman for money and tortured him when he refused to hand over a ransom. 

Bernat might have been killed and dismembered when the Singapore bank refused to allow transactions of more than Bt20 million, he said.

The investigation chief also said that Segarra could be part of a gang made up of no less than two but no more than 10 people, adding that members were probably Spaniards but Thais may also have played some role, such as driving or withdrawing money. 

Panya said he did not think Bernat was involved in any underground activities that lead to his death.