In connection with the deaths of eight persons who were allegedly poisoned with cyanide, police in Thailand have charged 36-year-old “Srarat” with murder, according to Pol Col Anek Taosuparb, deputy commander of the Crime Suppression Division.
Among the eight victims are:
Daranee passed away on December 13, 2020, in the Samphran district of Nakhon Pathom. Surat passed away on January 6, 2021, in Kanchanaburi. Kanikar passed away on September 12, 2022, in Ratchaburi.
Kantima, one of the victims in Kanchanaburi, survived the assassination attempt.
The deaths of Siriporn, who passed away on April 14 in Ratchaburi, and Nipa, another police officer, who passed away on April 1 in Kanchanaburi, are two prior cases for which arrest warrants had been issued. Following autopsies in both cases, cyanide traces were discovered in their blood.
According to reports, the suspect traveled to the Ban Pong area of Ratchaburi with 32-year-old Siriporn, a participant in a “share” money lending scheme, Srarat, and others to release fish into the Mae Klong River as part of a merit-making rite. She passed out at the dock, and her body was taken to the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police General Hospital where an autopsy determined that cyanide was present in her system.
The discovery of cyanide metabolites in Siriporn’s body and her connection to Srarat gave the police their first significant lead. This led to the suspect’s arrest on April 25 and a thorough investigation that turned up a number of suspicious deaths that were all connected to the suspect, according to the police.
All of the deceased victims were linked to Srarat, per the CSD, via financial transactions including the “share” scheme, automobile and land mortgages, and other loans.
Rapee Chamnanrua met with Pol Col Anek yesterday (Saturday) to deliver a statement regarding the matter and to provide the police with the evidence he collected. Rapee Chamnanrua was asked by Siriporn’s family to assist them in looking into her strange death.
Police will question a Thon Buri hospital nurse who is alleged to be the suspect’s close friend, according to the CSD deputy commander.
