Police seek Kamnan Poh helpers | Bangkok Post: news

News > Crimes

CSD closing in on Somchai suspects

Officers to reveal list of ex-fugitive's abettors

Published: 4 Feb 2013 at 00.00
Newspaper section: News

The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) expects to wrap up its investigation into several suspects who allegedly harboured convicted criminal Somchai Khunploem within 15 days.

Somchai, 75, better known as Kamnan Poh, was arrested in Bangkok on Wednesday after a two-month covert police operation. He had been on the run for nearly seven years.

Once dubbed the "Godfather of Chon Buri," Somchai 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. He was also sentenced in absentia by the Supreme Court in May 2006 to five years and four months' imprisonment for corruption.

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jck
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Discussion 6 : 04 Feb 2013 at 13.226
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Disc #1: Dream on!
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 5 : 04 Feb 2013 at 08.345
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Lots of investigations should be wrapped up within 15 days. But Thailand being Thailand some investigations take more like 15 months or 15 years and others are considered closed before they begun. But who is surprised by this when the relatives of the “Godfather of Chon Buri" are top officials in Chon Buri? And who is surprised what is going on in Thailand with another criminal in charge? When will Thai people wake up and vote the criminals and supporting family members of the criminals out?
It almost seems like lots of Thais are proud to have bad guys controlling all aspects of Thailand.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 4 : 04 Feb 2013 at 08.224
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D3: Renaissance, you are right on the button. I very much doubt there will be anything more than 'questioning' (done in the nicest possible way for the Culture Minister since he's not part of the opposition). But the Democrats will have a field day in parliament over this and so they should. News like this accentuates the fact that our governments are full of the dodgiest of representatives. It's a quandary for Sonthaya for sure, but it's laughable that he didn't know his father's whereabouts and shameful that a minister had full knowledge of this. There should be public outrage but there won't be.
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Renaissance
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Discussion 3 : 04 Feb 2013 at 06.263
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It is such a farce. The Police could not find him for 7 years, but they know who to contact to find out who was helping him to hide, and they will "wrap up" the case in 15 days. There are obviously reasons why he was "caught" recently, and it is not hard to guess what they are if one thinks about the two main motivations of politicians, namely money and power.
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musashi
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Discussion 2 : 04 Feb 2013 at 05.552
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What has happened to the Redbull scion? He was high on drugs, high on alcohol, killed a policeman.. and still not charged... and why are all the Thai and English media so quiet about this?
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upena
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Discussion 1 : 04 Feb 2013 at 05.261
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Wonder if that list will include the Mayor of Pattaya and the Minister of Culture.
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