In the Sattahip district, a fruit vendor was shot and killed, purportedly by a moneylender, over a 400 baht interest payment. The following day after the shooting, the gunman and his female accomplice were apprehended without delay.
The unfortunate event happened on November 14th, in the evening, close to a bustling convenience store in the Phlu Ta Luang neighborhood of Chonburi province. The deceased fruit vendor, Ittipon Pintong, was standing by the roadside selling fruits when two people with a green motorbike drove by and opened fire on him. Ittipon, 45, passed away thereafter in a nearby hospital.
The Phlu Ta Luang police were notified by the victim’s wife, Sangduen, 41, that her husband had borrowed 10,000 baht from a loan shark, at an interest rate of 200 baht each day. Unfortunately, for two days in a row, he was unable to pay the interest. The attackers spoke with Ittipon for a short while on Tuesday night before beginning the shooting.
Mr. Sommai, 29, and Ms. Ratchadaphon, 29, (surnames withheld), were the two suspects that the Phlu Ta Luang police swiftly apprehended on November 15. They were accused of planning a murder, unlawfully possessing a weapon, and discharging a handgun in public.
The two suspects reportedly fled Sattahip for Prachuap Khiri Khan after the incident in order to elude the authorities. However, according to Phlu Ta Luang police, they were taken into custody just a day after the shooting.
As of the time of publication, the two suspects were being questioned; they had not made a statement to the media, nor was it known if they had an attorney or if they would enter a plea to the allegations.
PHOTO: MGR Online
