Kamnan Poh behind bars at last | Bangkok Post: news

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Kamnan Poh behind bars

Police arrest fugitive on tollway after 2-month operation

Published: 30 Jan 2013 at 12.13
Online news: Crimes

After almost seven years on the run, Somchai Khunploem, better known as Kamnan Poh, is now behind bars.

The arrest of the former mayor of Saen Suk municipality at Lat Krabang motorway's toll gate was the culmination of a top-secret police operation spanning more than two months.

Somchai, once dubbed the "Godfather of Chon Buri",s was convicted in March last year in absentia by the Supreme Court for masterminding the murder of political rival Prayoon Sitthichoke at a wedding reception in March 2003. He was handed a sentence of 25 years in prison.

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soltair
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Discussion 16 : 30 Jan 2013 at 19.5916
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He was sighted several times in Pattaya over the years as well, the police there is totally untrustworthy;-) By the way his youngest son is the mayor of Pattaya and another son is chairman of the provincial administrative council of Chonburi and Member of Parliament representing Chonbur, the the Khunpluem clan, basically they are one of the old provincial Chinese crime (Mafia) families like there are in many other provinces around Thailand.
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30+YearResident
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Discussion 15 : 30 Jan 2013 at 19.2015
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How anywhere else in the world could the son of guy like this ever rise to be "Culture Minister"? Makes me wonder what and who's culture he's ministering??? "Amazing Thailand"
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andreaust
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Discussion 14 : 30 Jan 2013 at 19.0714
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I am sure he won't stay in jail the coming weekend...he will be already out on bail, it would be a shame unfortunately it is like that...only poor people cannot get bail.
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andreaust
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Discussion 13 : 30 Jan 2013 at 19.0213
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His son is the current tourism and sports minister. More than 6 years he ran away, may be he is coming back knowing that he might be on the amnesty list like some other criminals.
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andreaust
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Discussion 12 : 30 Jan 2013 at 18.5512
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Discussion 8 wrote:
"Sheltering a fugitive or not informing police the where about is considered an accomplice."
That is true but I remember few years ago a top Thai politician (he is still a top politician) did shelter his two sons who were accused of murder.
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jamjon01
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Discussion 11 : 30 Jan 2013 at 18.4711
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Wow, just reading this as it is written is quite a display of corruption and truly seems is NO LAW anywhere in Thailand. I wish you luck Thailand-Not sure that will help you now.
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robins
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Discussion 10 : 30 Jan 2013 at 18.4610
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The police had to wait until he did not have body guards? A hired guard would need to be quite stupid to engage in a gunfight with the police for an employer, and in any event can't the police shoot back?
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 9 : 30 Jan 2013 at 18.419
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I like to know who is in bigger trouble, Kamnan Poh or the persons who conspired to arrest the father of the culture minister. After all this is Thailand.
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tansri
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Discussion 8 : 30 Jan 2013 at 18.098
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Sheltering a fugitive or not informing police the where about is considered an accomplice. Wondering how much his son knows where his father was hiding all this while or at least when he went for a medical check up.
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dickemery
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Discussion 7 : 30 Jan 2013 at 18.037
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fugitives eventually get caught,this man is the father of the current culture minister who never knew of his father,s where about? yet the former dem culture minister was accused of allowing person to work in the culture dept without the proper procedue and the pt and followers were calling for a 5 year band ,now doubt its not a problem to pm yingluck unethical cabinet
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