Akeyuth killing 'politically motivated'

Akeyuth killing 'politically motivated'

The disappearance and possible murder of businessman Akeyuth Anchanbutr was politically motivated, Mr Akeyuth's lawyer said on Wednesday.

Suwat Apaisak speaks on the stage at the yellow-shirt People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rally in 2008. (File Photo by Pawat Laopaisarntaksin)

Suwat Apaisak, who was a lawyer for the yellow-shirt People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), said he did not believe the statement made by Mr Akeyuth's driver Santipap Pengduang, 24, who confessed to police that he killed his boss because he wanted to steal five million baht from him.

If the suspect wanted to steal the money he would have taken it first and then hid the body, he said.

"I will believe the driver's statement once I see Akeyuth's body, and when it's clear that he was murdered," Mr Suwat said.

According to the lawyer, Mr Santipap was a mole who handed over a key to Mr Akeyuth's van to another group of people in return for money because he was a gambling addict. Mr Akeyuth had also believed the driver had embezzled one million baht of his company's assets, Mr Suwat said.

The lawyer alleged Mr Santipap has a long criminal record and had previously worked with a military officer who was involved in an abduction case.

He did not think the driver killed Mr Akeyuth because he wanted to take his money. The suspect attempted to hide the body before taking the money.

"I don't think the motive was the suspect's anger after his boss fired his girlfriend. The plot was well planned and the money issue was just a diversion.

"Preliminary information suggests that a highly influential figure who wanted Mr Akeyuth dead was behind the murder plot, but I don't want to disclose the information at this time because it would affect police inquiries," Mr Suwat said.

He insisted the plan to murder his client involved many people and was politically motivated.

The lawyer said Mr Santipap's father, Sgt-Maj 1st Class Itthiporn Pengduang, 59, was a former soldier who might be involved in the plot.

Lt-Gen Sakol Chuentrakul, the 4th Army chief, said Mr Santipap's father had admitted that his son came to see him in Phatthalung province to ask him to help bury Mr Akeyuth's body.

Mr Suwat said a team of police, with digging equipment, had been sent to a village in Phatthalung where Mr Santipap claimed that Mr Akeyuth's body was buried.

Mr Akeyuth has been a staunch critic of and campaigner against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Mr Akeyuth fled overseas to avoid being charged over a collapsed pyramid scheme in 1985. He returned to Thailand after the 20-year statute of limitations relating to the case expired.

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