CHAIYAPHUM: A teenager accused of robbing and killing a 24-year-old university student confessed that he intended to sell the victim’s car to buy a big motorcycle, police say.
Sathit Sakaew, 18, was apprehended in Muang district of Chaiyaphum on Friday evening following the arrest of his brother Watchara Sakaew, 22, on Thursday.
The pair are accused of robbing and killing Nirand Soirungnuen, 24, a student of North Bangkok Univerisity. His body was found buried in Muang district of this northeastern province on Wednesday after his family reported him missing three weeks ago.
Watchara was caught at a dormitory in Muang district on Thursday and allegedly confessed to helping bury Nirand’s body.
Sathit, who allegedly stabbed Nirand to death, fled to hide in the Phu Laenkha mountains between Kaeng Kho and Muang districts of Chaiyaphum. He later left his hideout to seek refuge at an orchard in Non Somboon village in tambon Nasaeng in Muang district, where he was caught on Friday.
He has been charged with colluding in murder, concealing or destroying a corpse,and robbery. Police on Saturday took him to the Chaiyaphum Juvenile and Family Court for detention.
During the interrogation, Sathit confessed to having known Nirand via the Bigo live chat application, according to police. He subsequently plotted with his brother to lure the student to meet them at a club on the night of April 8 and to stay overnight with them at their dorm. The pair then attacked him to rob him of cash, valuables and his car, police said.
Sathit told police his main aim was to get the victim’s car and sell it to raise the money to buy a big bike he had dreamed of for a long time. His elder brother took cash and other valuable items from the victim, whose body was buried in a forest.
The teenager said he tried to sell the stolen car, but found no buyers as he could not produce the necessary documents. Finally, he sold it to a used car tent operator in Bangkok for only 25,000 baht.
The money was not enough to purchase the bike he wanted, Sathit told police. He remains in custody pending further legal action.
Nirand had driven from Bangkok to Chaiyaphum on April 8 to celebrate Songkran with his parents in Muang district. He called his mother at 8.40pm when he reached Chatturat district to ask her to prepare dinner for him. However, when he did not arrive home later that night, his family filed a report with the police.
It was not until Wednsday of this week that his body was found by local residents who had gone out to collect ant eggs in a nearby forest.