25 years for planning failed hit on judge
 |
| Rangsan: Denied any involvement in plot |
The Criminal Court yesterday handed down a 25-year jail sentence on architect and property developer Rangsan Torsuwan for masterminding the attempted killing of former Supreme Court president Pramarn Chansue 15 years ago.
Three others involved in the plot, Apichit Angsutarangkul, Somporn Dejanuparb and Nen Mahavilai, were also jailed.
Rangsan, who hired Apichit to find gunmen to kill Pramarn, is preparing to appeal the sentence.
Apichit, at Rangsan's instigation, contacted Bancherd Chanthapelin, who then acted as a broker to contact Somporn and Nen Mahavilai over the hiring of the two gunmen. He was also jailed for 25 years.
The gunmen were Pratum Sutmanee and Bamrung Chaimuang, who later decided not to kill Mr Pramarn.
Mr Somporn and Nen Mahavilai were given a reduced sentence of 16 years and eight months because they confessed to police.
Rangsan and Apichit strongly denied any involvement, but according to the court verdict yesterday, the evidence of the four defendants "cannot substantiate their arguments against the accusation."
Pramarn, who, according to the plot, would have been murdered near his house in Thung Mahamek in 1993 had not the two gunmen changed their minds, passed away from a lung infection in February this year.
Rangsan saw a collapse of his fortunes when he was arrested in May, 1993 for his involvement in the plot.
His efforts to launch a counter-suit against eight senior prosecutors, who were accused of proceeding against him without sufficient evidence, were unsuccessful.
Rangsan's business and personal conflicts with Pramarn are believed to have been the motive behind the murder plot.
After the verdict yesterday, a lawyer for the defendants asked the court to release the accused on bail so that an appeal could be filed. They have 30 days to lodge the appeal with the court.
The case has been subject to a long investigation and prosecution process as both sides have presented complex legal arguments which required scores of witnesses to be called to testify.
Among key witnesses of the plaintiff were then-Pol Col Chumpol Manmai and then-Pol Maj Thavee Sodsong.
While the case was proceeding through court, Rangsan was struggling to regain his reputation as a top-class architect.
In 2004, he launched a project to build a luxurious, high-rise condominium in Pattaya.
Apichit, a businessman granted a concession to collect swallow's nests in Krabi, once ran for mayor of Satun.
Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Next
