Police rule out claim ‘influential woman’ involved in Krabi massacre

Deputy National Police Commissioner Pol General Suthep Dejraksa said yesterday that Pol Lt Colonel Santhana Prayoonrat, a former deputy superintendent attached to the Special Branch Police Division, had not provided the full name of the woman or new information to investigators.
“He says if she is identified by name, witnesses may not have the courage to speak to police,” Suthep said. “We have no need to invite Santhana to provide information again, unless he really has new information.” 
Santhana was yesterday invited to explain his claim that an unidentified woman referred to as the “big sister of Chumporn” was involved in the shocking murders. 
However, Suthep said Santhana did not provide any new information for the investigation into the killing of village head Worayuth Sunlung and seven members of his family in Krabi’s Ao Luk district. 
To date, the investigation is more than 80 per cent complete, police have said, with evidence reportedly suggesting that Surifath Bannoppawongsakul, or “Bang Fath”, was behind the crime over a land dispute he had with Worayuth. 
Eight suspects including Surifath are now in detention.
“Information given by Santhana cannot be proven based on forensic-science principles. We cannot use it in the investigation report,” Suthep said. 
In a related development, Ao Luk district chief Chaiyawuth Bua-thong said an election would be held in Moo 1, Ban Khao Ngarm, Tambon Ban Klang, in his district to select the new village head to fill the post left vacant by Worayuth’s murder. 
“The election will take place on August 8,” he said.