The prime suspect and alleged mastermind of the murder of a young couple shot down at Buddha Mountain in Chon Buri had confessed to the charges after being handed over by Cambodian authorities, according to police.
Panya Yingdung, 39, also known as “Sia Ouan’’, admitted to the murder of Paweena Namuangrak, 20, and her male friend Anantachai Jaritram, 21, on July 29, in Chon Buri, national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda told a media conference in Bangkok on Wednesday.
He was speaking after leading the interrogation of the suspect, who was flown from the border to Bangkok on Tuesday night.
The suspect told police he and his accomplices carried out the crime, the police chief said.
He declined to give details of how the suspect and his gang plotted the murders.
Mr Panya’s account contradicted some of the testimony given by the five other suspects already in custody but that would pose no obstacle for police handling the case, which would be evidence-based, Pol Gen Chaktip said.
The 39-year-old Phuket club owner is alleged to be one of the two gunmen who shot dead the young couple in broad daylight in the parking lot at Khao Chee Chan, also known as Buddha Mountain, in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district on July 29.
Police suspect jealousy and vengeance were the motive for the killing, as the woman had worked in Panya’s club in Phuket and was said to be his favourite girl. (continues below)
Police put suspect Krisana Sisuk, 22, through a re-enactment of the July 29 shooting of the young couple at the crime scene, Khao Chee Chan (Buddha Mountain) in Sattahip district of Chon Buri on Aug 7. (Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong)
Mr Panya disappeared after the shooting, his pickup found abandoned near the Cambodian border in Sa Kaeo. He was arrested in Prey Veng province in Cambodia on Aug 15, reportedly heading to Vietnam.
Five other suspects in the double murder are already in police custody -- alleged second gunman Narong Warintharawet, 22; Kritsana Sisuk, 22, Kiatisak Suransaengmilboon, 35, Sayant Sisuk, 43, and Jirasak Unaiban, 34.
Pol Gen Chakthip said he did not believe Mr Panya would try to take his own life. The suspect had learned only later, from social media, that he shot the young couple in front of the carved Buddha image at Khao Chee Chan. He had thought it was just an ordinary stone carving.
“After learning it was the Buddha carving, the suspect became scared. He said he is fearful of sacred things," the police chief said.
He also said that 2-3 bullets had misfired as they unleashed a hail of shots at the couple.
After interrogation and the media conference Mr Panya was taken to Chon Buri for a crime scene re-enactment. He briefly told a media crew that he had heard of the police chief’s remark that he had only two choices - to be captured dead, or alive. That was when he decided to get as far away as he could.
Panya Yingdung, 39, alias "Sia Ouan", is taken to Khao Cheen Chan (Buddha Mountain) in Chon Buri's Sattahip district for a crime re-enactment on Wednesday afternoon. (Photo by Chaiyot Pupattanapong)
Earlier, the famlies of Anatachai and Paweena said they will never forgive the mastermind of the murders. They expressed their feelings after learning that he had been arrested in Cambodia.
Mr Panya is a native of Surin province’s Buachet border district. He used to work as a manager of a discotheque in Pattaya, Chon Buri before moving to Phuket some 20 years ago. He initially worked for a nightspot on Patong beach, where he was a toilet attendant - providing services such as a massage and refreshing towels in return for tips.
He later entered bids for the toilet service contracts at several entertainment venues in Patong, and earned a lot of money. He expanded his business by running a bar on Bangla Road, the major night strip. His nightspot thrived. From that small bar, he expanded, openng more venues along the road, according to Thai media reports.
Four guns allegedly used in the murder of the young couple in Chon Buri, seized from the prime suspect. (Photo by Apichart Jinakul)