Worries over 3 more 'widow' relations

Worries over 3 more 'widow' relations

Police are investigating whether three other Japanese men previously involved with a Thai woman suspected of murdering two Japanese men are still alive.

Somsak sae Lim, right, tells police about the murder of Katsutoshi Tanaka in Samut Prakan late Thursday night. (Photo by Sutthiwit Chayutworakan)

Pol Lt Gen Suveera Songmetta, acting assistant national police chief, said police were contacting the Japanese embassy in Bangkok to seek information on the three men who had relationships with Pornchanok Chaiyapa.

Mrs Pornchanok, 47, and her Thai "ex-husband" is suspected of murdering 79-year-old Yoshinori Shimato in September and ex-husband Katsutoshi Tanaka, 57, about a decade ago.

The acting assistant police chief quoted Mrs Pornchanok as saying that she knew five Japanese men, including Shimato and Tanaka. Police learned the names of the three others and are checking on their whereabouts.

On Thursday night, police officers including Pol Lt Gen Suveera went to the row house where Tanaka died in 2003. They brought a key witness in the case, Somsak sae Lim, who reportedly witnessed the killing of the Japanese man, for interrogation.

Mr Somsak is a younger brother of taxi driver Somchai Kaewbangyang, 47, allegedly the Thai ex-husband of Mrs Pornchanok.

Mr Somsak told police that Mr Somchai, Mrs Pornchanok, Tanaka and he had been at the row house at the 18-kilometre marker on the inbound side of Bang Na-Trat Road in Bang Chalong sub-district of Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan, at the night of the alleged murder.

Police reported that Mr Somsak said early the next morning, Mr Somchai waited for Tanaka to come out of his room and, when he did, Mr Somchai stretched out his leg to trip Tanaka so he would tumble down a staircase.

He told police that Mr Somchai pressed his foot on Tanaka's neck against a stair spindle for 15 minutes until the Japanese suffocated. Mr Somsak said Mr Somchai then called him and Mrs Pornchanok to help him arrange the body as if the victim had accidentally fallen down the stairs to his death.

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