Current police work may depend heavily on forensic science and DNA evidence to apprehend criminals, but sometimes all that officers need to collar criminals is a telephone.
Akkharadet: Cops apply pressure
This approach was behind the Crime Suppression Division's (CSD) recent arrest of two suspects involved in a number of brutal murders. CSD acting chief Akkharadet Phimonsi said he couldn't be happier to have saved time and money by calling people close to the suspects, which persuaded them to just walk in the door and give themselves up.
While investigators often depend on security cameras and forensic methods to search for clues and track down wrongdoers, Pol Col Akkharadet said the suspects turned themselves in after CSD officers phoned people believed to be harbouring them and put on the squeeze.
"We often get on the phone to put pressure on people to stop helping suspects. Then they have nowhere to go and eventually have to turn themselves in," Pol Col Akkharadet said.
But for this method to succeed, police first need to know the suspects' relationships with their friends, relatives and especially their bosses or influential figures whom they depend on.
On Feb 5, Chusak Santirattanamongkhon, chief of a security guard team at Phruesa Ville housing estate in the Phasi Charoen area, turned himself in to the CSD after allegedly killing a resident of the estate during a quarrel on Jan 31.
The 60-year-old guard shot dead Thanyawi Thamtharathankun, 37, after being scolded and assaulted by the victim, according to testimony he gave police. An initial investigation found Mr Thanyawi was unhappy with Mr Chusak's failure to block a construction vehicle hired to do renovation work from entering the estate.
Pol Col Akkharadet's investigation team learned that a group of military officers owned the security guard company that Mr Chusak was working for and suspected that they might know his whereabouts.
Once police learned they might be sheltering Mr Chusak, they phoned them, asking them to co-operate with the probe. In response, they helped pressure Mr Chusak and finally convinced him to surrender.
The other suspect, Yotthongchai Prayunrat, also faced similar pressure after police contacted an influential figure with whom he was linked. The 34-year-old murder suspect, wanted under warrants issued by Chiang Mai and Suphan Buri provincial courts, turned himself in to the CSD on Wednesday. Investigators wanted to arrest him as quickly as possible for fear he might commit more killings, the acting CSD chief said.
A former owner of an entertainment venue in Bangkok's Meng Chai area, Mr Yotthongchai is accused of killing three people, including his 27-year-old girlfriend with whom he had a 2-year-old child.
He allegedly killed his first victim, identified only as "To", in October 2010 during a dispute at a snooker club in the Huai Kwang area.
The suspect allegedly committed the second murder after arguing with a man at a restaurant in Meng Chai two years later.
The victim was identified as Noppharat Saritawut. Police say Mr Yotthongchai killed him and left his body on a roadside in Suphan Buri's Bang Pla Ma district. As police tried to track him down, Mr Yotthongchai allegedly committed his third killing in Chiang Mai. He strangled his girlfriend, Ploipaphat Chaengcharoen, to death in a fit of jealousy.
Again, all Pol Col Akkharadet's team did was pick up the phone. "We called many people who we believe were giving him shelter," he said.
"The last was an influential figure who, after being pressured by officers, convinced Mr Yotthongchai to surrender.''
Pol Col Akkharadet did not reveal the person's identity but said such people also serve as police sources. "Connections with these people are at the heart of the phone call strategy," Pol Col Akkharadet said.
Having "friends" from all walks of life — whether they're hooligans or influential figures — helps police build a network of people who can help put pressure on criminal suspects with just a phone call, Pol Col Akkharadet said.
Contact Crime Track: crimetrack@bangkokpost.co.th