The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) has revived a case against a 73-year-old woman who arranged the contract killing of her son's fiancee in Songkhla province in 2007 and who police initially believed died while on bail.
However, they now say her death certificate was doctored, and she is currently on the run.
CSD commander Akkaradech Pimolsri said Tuesday the case was reopened after investigators found Juree Janngam was still alive.
Mrs Juree, a Songkhla resident, was arrested in 2007 for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill pharmacist Riwprae Chotikarn, who was engaged to her son Wikrom Channgam.
Riwprae and her colleague, Adisorn Prateepthut, were shot dead inside a clinic in Khuan Niang district on Dec 13 that year. The initial investigation found Mr Wikrom, a 36-year-old bank employee, and Riwprae were due to get married at a hotel in Hat Yai district on Dec 29.
Mrs Juree was opposed to the marriage as she believed Riwprae did not deserve her son because she was poor. Eyewitnesses led to two hitmen, Narin Janchay, 36, and Jamnong Kongsuwan, 40, both of whom were caught in Phatthalung province.
The duo's accounts led police to finally arrest Mrs Juree. The three suspects denied the allegations. The charges against Mr Jamnong were dropped, but the Court of First Instance sentenced Mrs Juree and Mr Narin to death. Both suspects appealed but the lower court's judgement was upheld.
Mrs Juree was released on bail posted by her relative, Rasamee Janngam.
On Feb 27, 2014, Ms Rasamee claimed to the Songkhla Provincial Court that Mrs Juree had died, and submitted a death certificate to refund the bail guarantee.
She said Mrs Juree died after collapsing on Feb 24 in Chumphon's Tha Sae district, and claimed the body was cremated at Wat Maneesop in Muang district on Feb 28.
CSC commander Akkaradech: 'She's still alive'
The Supreme Court ordered a probe into the defendant's death, and found Mrs Juree's funeral rite was never held. Authorities from the district office testified they had issued the death certificate when Ms Rasamee showed them a document from the phuyaiban (village chief) to confirm the suspect's death.
Police are now searching for Mrs Juree, who is believed to be lying low in the southern provinces. The Supreme Court has also reduced Mrs Juree's sentence from death to life imprisonment after her son's witness testimony during the trial. Meanwhile, Mr Narin remains on death row.
In another development, 66 suspects were arrested with a large haul of drugs and firearms during a series of raids in Satun province last week.
Pol Lt Gen Weerapong Chuanpakdee, a commander of the Provincial Police Region 9, said on Tuesday that the operation was carried out in response to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's order to weed out influential gangs in the rackets. Of all the 66 suspects, 12 people were apprehended for firearm offences, with 20 guns and 67 bullets seized.
A total of 45 drug offenders were also arrested with 7,123 methamphetamine pills, 22 kilogrammes of kratom leaves and 12 kg of dried marijuana. The remaining nine suspects were detained under arrest warrants issued by the court earlier.
Meanwhile, 70 suspects accused of involvement in a human trafficking ring in the South are still at large, said Pol Lt Gen Weerapong.
Seven of them, all Satun residents, told authorities they would turn themselves in to police but are concerned over whether they will be granted bail. Lt Gen Weerapong said if the suspects are certain of their innocence, they should not be worried about bail, which depends on the court.
On Monday, a drug suspect was also arrested in Narathiwat with 699,600 speed pills worth 140 million baht found during a house raid. Fourth Army Region chief Lt Gen Wiwat Pathompak said authorities had received a tip-off drugs smuggled from the North were hidden along the border in Sungai Kolok district to pass on to drug dealers.
Authorities seized the speed pills in a search of the house, owned by brothers Poayee Salae and Samran Baka in tambon Muno. Mr Poayee was also taken into custody but Mr Samran escaped.