The 47-year-old caretaker of a construction business in Bangkok’s Bang Khen district has been arrested for allegedly murdering his 38-year-old colleague and disposing of the body in an oil drum filled with mortar.
Prayoon “Joop” Kaewpayot – who denied any wrongdoing and said he would only testify on court – surrendered to police in Phatthalung on Thursday, said Bang Khen superintendent Pol Colonel Amnat Inthasuan. Prayoon will appear in court on Saturday to apply for the first 12-day detention order. Police will charge him with murder and hiding a body to conceal the crime, Amnat said.
He added that police intend to object to his bail release on ground that it is a serious crime with violent behaviour.
Amnat also said that Bang Khen police would transfer the case to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) as per the victim’s relatives’ wishes.
Police said Prayoon asked police to look for garage mechanic Atcha Noopathum, who was reported missing since March 6, in an attempt to avoid suspicion.
He is accused of killing Atcha out of jealousy in a dispute over a woman.
Prayoon apparently left town after an oil drum containing the decomposed body of Atcha was found buried in woods behind a restaurant on Theparak Road in Tha Raeng sub-district earlier this week.
CSD commander Pol Maj General Jirabhop Bhuridej said more people were involved in the crime. At least one person allegedly aided Prayoon in murdering Atcha and others helped move and dispose the oil drum without knowing about its content.
He said police’s found that the restaurant’s CCTV memory card was lost.
